


Library of Congress. 1 

Chap. _i~.-^ -__-^iDi_.'^ 



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S^IT^UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.r^ 



HISTORY 



COLONEL EDMUND PHINNEY'S 
EIGHTEENTH CONTINENTAL REGIMENT 



TWELVE MONTHS' SERVICE IN 1776 



WITH COMPLETE MUSTER-ROLLS OF THE COMPANIES 



NATHAN GOOLD 

Author of Falmouth Neck in the Revolution and Histories of 

Col. Phinney's 31ST Regiment of Foot, 1775, and Peaks 

AND House Islands 



REPRINTED FROM THE MAINE HISTORICAL QUARTERLY 



PORTLAND, MAINE 

THE THURSTON PRINT 
1898 



967'^ 






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COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S 18TH CONTI- 
NENTAL REGIMENT. 

ONE YEAR'S SERVICE, COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 1776. 

BY NATHAN GOOLD. 

There is a history in all men's lives. 

— Shakespeare. 

As early as September, 1775, Gen. Washington 
was much concerned at the prospect of the terms of 
service of the men, then in the army, expiring in 
December, with no provision made to fill their 
places with new regiments ; and September .20, he 
addressed a letter to Congress, calling attention to 
this matter, and to the condition of the finances of 
the colonies. 

October 18, authority was given to raise twenty-six 
regiments of about eight hundred men, for one year, 
and October 28, after the men then in the service had 
received their pay, an order was issued recommending 
the soldiers, especially those who were to continue 
another year, to purchase with their money only 
shirts, shoes, stockings, and a good pair of leather 
breeches, as it " was intended the new army should be 
uniformed." Congress was to purchase cloth, in the 
best market, hire tailors to make uniform coats and 



2 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

waistcoats, which they were to furnish the soldiers 
cheaper than clothing of the same quality could be 
bought elsewhere. November 4, it was voted that the 
cloth of the army should be dyed brown, and the dis- 
tinction of the regiments should be made in the color 
of the facings ; and the same day Congress " Resolved 
that each regiment consist of 728 men, officers in- 
cluded, to be divided into eight companies. Each 
company to consist of one captain, two lieutenants, 
one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals, two drums 
or fifes, and seventy-six privates." 

These were the preparations then made toward the 
organization of the twenty-six infantry regiments of 
the new Continental army, to go into service January 
1, 1776, to take the places of the regiments whose 
terms of service would expire with December, 1775. 

From an act passed January 22, 1776, by the Gen- 
eral Court, for regulating the militia of Massachusetts, 
the lawful equipment of a soldier of that date was as 
follows: — Officers and soldiers of sufficient ability 
were obliged to equip themselves, and the others were 
equipped by the towns. The equipment was ordered 
to be, •' A good firearm with a steel or iron ramrod 
with a spring to retain the same, a worm, priming 
wire and brush, a bayonet fitted to the gun, a scab- 
bard and belt therefor, a cutting sword or tomahawk 
or hatchet, a pouch containing a cartridge-box that 
will hold fifteen rounds of cartridges at least, a hun- 
dred buckshot, a jackknife and tow for wadding, six 
flints, one pound of powder, forty leaden bullets fitted 



COL. EDMUND PHINJSEY S REGIMENT. 6 

to gun, a knapsack, blanket and a canteen or wooden 
bottle sufficient to hold one quart." Probably few 
soldiers were fully equipped. 

In the organization of the new army. Col. Edmund 
Phinney of the 31st Regiment of Foot, then in the 
service at Cambridge, was recommended by Gen. 
Washington to be commissioned colonel of the new 
18th Continental regiment, and orders for the enlist- 
ment of the men were issued November 12. Col. 
Phinney retained the same field and staff officers who 
were serving with him in his old regiment, and the 
new regiment may properly be called the successor to 
the old 31st Regiment of Foot. 

This reorganization of the army, from thirty-eight 
regiments to twenty-six, gave Washington and his 
generals great perplexity. In the new organization 
it was intended to make it a continental instead of a 
colonial army, so as to encourage the union spirit and 
break up the jealousy between New England and the 
other colonies. It was expected that most of the old 
army would reenlist, but after one month's trial only 
five thousand recruits were procured. 

At the time this regiment entered the service the 
British ministry had resolved to hire over seventeen 
thousand German troops, known to us as the Hessians, 
to help subdue the colonists. The colonies were not 
united. The finances were at a low ebb, and the 
Southern colonists gave only half-hearted support to 
the rebellion. The army was weaker than it had been 
at any other time during the siege of Boston. The 



4 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT. 

old regiments were disbanded December 31, within 
gunshot of twenty or thirty regiments of British sol- 
diers at Boston and Charlestown. The supply of fire- 
arms was so small that the guns of the retiring soldiers 
were taken from them and paid for at an appraisal 
which, in many cases, caused great dissatisfaction. 
The army was in a critical condition, and had not 
powder enough for four rounds. They had but few 
cannon, and some of them were almost useless. 

January 1, 1776, the day the 18th Continental reg- 
iment entered the service, was the birthday of the 
new Continental army, and the Union flag of thirteen 
stripes and a British union, was raised on Prospect 
Hill, with a salute of thirteen guns, and with loud 
huzzas by the soldiers. The British at Boston heard 
the cheering of the men, and thought the colonists 
had decided to submit to the king, as his speech had 
just been received ; but that idea was soon dispelled. 

Col. Phinney's new regiment was assigned to Gen. 
Heath's brigade, in the center of the army, at Cam- 
bridge, under Gen. Israel Putnam. The following 
return, made about that time, shows the regiments 
composing the brigade : — 

Gen. William Heath's Brigade, January 24, 1776. 

Col. William Prescott's 7th Continental regiment. 
Col. Paul D. Sargeant's* 16th " " 

Col. Edmund Phinney's 18th " " 

Col. John Greaton's 24th " " 

Col. Loammi Baldwin's 26th " " 

' Col. Paul D. Sargeant died at Sullivan, Maine, September 15, 1827. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT. D 

Weak as the army was, scantily supplied with arms, 
powder, and the necessary comforts of life, the coun- 
try looked to see it expel the British forces from Bos- 
ton. Gen. Washington wrote, January 14: — 

The reflection upon my situation and that of this army produces 
many an uneasy hour, when all around me are wrapped in sleep. 
Few people know the predicament we are in, on a thousand accounts. 
I shall most religiously believe the finger of Providence is in it, to 
blind the eyes of our enemies ; for surely, if we get well through 
this month, it must be for want of their knowing the disadvantages 
we labor under. 

The people of the colonies had become accustomed 
to war, and were then entertaining the idea of their 
political independence, which was very popular with 
the army. It had become offensive to pray for the 
king, and the spirit for a government of the people 
was abroad in the land. 

Gen. Putnam was active at Cambridge, inspiring 
the soldiers with his zeal, and Col. Moylan, writing 
from there in regard to the January thaw, said: — 

The bay is open ; everything thaws except Old Put. He is still 
as hard as ever, crying out for powder, powder — ye gods, give us 
powder. 

He had his headquarters in the Inman house, which 
was on what is now Inman Street, Cambridge. Here 
he was as near the enemy as possible, with his Connec- 
ticut troops camped in Inman's field close at hand. 

Gen. Washington's headquarters was at the Vassal 
House, now known as " Longfellow's Home," at Cam- 
bridge, and his wife was with him. Dorothy Dudley, 



6 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

in her journal, describes the appearance of Martha 
Washington as follows : — 

She is a fine-looking lady, with regular features, dark chestnut 
hair and hazel eyes, and a certain gravity in carriage, which be- 
comes her position. 

All through the month of February great prepara- 
tions were made for an attack on Boston, and the 
army was preparing for a great battle, but the object 
of those preparations was then unknown to the sol- 
diers. The army had been reenforced by several reg- 
iments that were enlisted for two months' service to 
expire April first. 

The rations issued to the soldiers at Cambridge in 
February were : — Corned beef and pork four days in 
a week ; salt-fish one day ; fresh beef two days ; one 
and one-half pound of beef, or eighteen ounces of 
pork, every day ; one-half pint rice or a pint of Indian 
meal was given the soldiers for a week ; a quart of 
spruce beer daily or nine gallons of molasses to one 
hundred men, per week. Every man had one pound 
of flour every day except one, when hardbread took its 
place. Each soldier was given six ounces of butter 
per week. Peas, beans, and other vegetables, such as 
potatoes, turnips, onions, were dealt out in weekly 
portions. Six pounds of candles were given one hun- 
dred men for a week. 

It was in February that Gen. Henry Knox hauled, 
with forty-two ox teams from Fort Ticonderoga, 14 
mortars, 41 cannon, 2,300 lbs. lead, and a barrel of 
flints, to be used in Boston. Ten of these cannon 
probably came to Falmouth Neck, the next July, to 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT. 7 

defend that town. During this month there were 
about fourteen thousand Americans about Boston. 
Gen. Washington wrote, February 26 : -^ 

We have under many difficulties on account of hard frozen ground 
completed our work on Lechmere Point. We have got some heavy- 
pieces of ordnance placed there, two platforms fixed for mortars, 
and everything for offensive operations. Strong guards are mounted 
there and at Cobble Hill. 

A return of Col. Phinney's regiment, dated March 
2, 1776, gave the whole strength as 413 men, with 285 
fit for duty. 

Ensign Henry Sewall, of this regiment, kept a 
journal while in the army, from which many of the 
facts of their service are taken, and but for which 
they would have been lost forever. To such men as 
he history is indebted for much authentic information. 

March 2, a heavy firing of cannon and mortars at 
Cambridge and Roxbury on Boston was the begin- 
ning of the attempt to drive the British out of the 
town, and the next day three companies of Col. Phin- 
ney's regiment were marched to Cobble Hill (Somer- 
ville), and five to Lechmere Point (East Cambridge), 
to assist in the bombardment. At the Point two how- 
itzers were burst, but no one was hurt. Towards 
night the thirteen-inch brass mortar Congress was 
moved down. March 4, the bombardment commenced 
about 8 A. M.. and the Congress was burst at the 
third firing in an attempt to hit the Old South steeple 
in Boston. 

It was during the night of March 4, which was 
bright moonlight, that Gen. John Thomas, with two 



8 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

thousand men and three hundred carts, fortified Dor- 
chester Heights. Here Gen. Peleg Wadsworth, as an 
aid to Gen. Artemus Ward, rendered valuable assist- 
ance to the army. 

Col. Phinney's regiment was stationed, during the 
bombardment, at Lechmere Point and Cobble Hill, 
and the object of the attack on Boston was to divert 
the attention of the British from the operations going 
on at Dorchester Heights. From Lechmere Point 
during that night were fired thirty-two twenty-four- 
pound shot, fourteen eighteen-pound shot, and two 
ten-inch shells ; from Cobble Hill eighteen eighteen- 
pound shot. The next morning the soldiers discov- 
ered the fortifications that had been built during the 
night, and then knew the reason for the bombardment 
of the night before. 

The earth was frozen eighteen inches, and Gen. 
Heath said of the works at Dorchester, " Perhaps there 
never was so much work done in so short time." 
Gen. Howe said, " The rebels have done more in the 
night than my men could have done in a month." 

It was during the forenoon of March 5, that the 
worst was expected. Washington thought that when 
the British commander discovered the works at Dor- 
chester he would order an assault on them at once. 
The American soldiers expected it, and although tired, 
and suffering from the want of their night's rest, they 
were in high spirits, being ready and anxious to try 
Bunker Hill over again. March 5, the anniversary of 
the Boston massacre, was selected for this event, and 
as those brave men lay in the trenches, resting before 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S EEGIMENT. 9 

the assault, Gen. Washington rode along the lines, 
and was received with great enthusiasm. As he 
passed by he encouraged the men, and said, "Remem- 
ber this is the fifth of March, a day never to be for- 
gotten. Avenge the death of your brothers." 

The British commenced a tremendous cannonade 
from Boston and the fleet, which the Americans 
hardly noticed in their preparations. The assault, 
which was expected to be a desperate one, did not 
occur, for the furious gale of wind, which continued 
with a heavy rain through the next day, prevented 
the enemy from making the attack on our lines. 
Thacher says, " Cannon shot are continually rolling 
and rebounding on the hill, and it is astonishing to 
observe how little our soldiers are terrified by them." 
" Gracious God ! if it be determined in thy Providence 
that thousands of our fellow creatures shall this day 
be slain, let thy wrath be appeased, and in mercy 
grant that victory be on the side of our suffering, 
bleeding country." After waiting for the assault, 
Thacher wrote in his journal, "Thus has kind Provi- 
dence seen fit to frustrate a design which must have 
been attended with immense slauo-hter and bloodshed." 

On the morning of March 5, Col. Phinney's regi- 
ment was marched to Cambridge Common with the 
brigade, and there four thousand chosen troops were 
ready for the assault on Boston. They were organ- 
ized into two divisions, one under Gen. John Sullivan 
and the other under Gen. Nathaniel Greene, and both 
under Gen. Putnam. On signals being given, they 
were to embark in boats near the mouth of the Charles 



10 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

River, and- under cover of three floating batteries to 
attack Boston. The first division was to land at the 
powder house and gain possession of Beacon Hill and 
Mount Horam, afterwards called Mount Vernon, which 
was near where Louisburg Square now is. The sec- 
ond division was to land at Barton's Point, or a little 
south of it, and after securing that post was to join 
the first division, force the gates and works at Rox- 
bury Neck, and let in the American troops. Col. 
Phinney's men were marched back to their quarters 
in the afternoon, and probably dismissed, as the dan- 
ger of an assault that day was over. 

Joseph Reed wrote Gen. Washington : — 

I suppose Old Put was to command the detachment intended for 
Boston on the fifth instant, as I do not know of any officers but 
himself who could have been depended on for so hazardous service. 

Gen. Washington's reply was : — 

The four thousand men destined for Boston on the fifth, if the 
ministerialists had attempted our works at Dorchester Heights, or 
the lines at Roxbury, were to have been headed by Old Put. 

These letters show the hazardous service which Col. 
Phinney's regiment was expected to perform, and in 
what estimation they were held by their commanders. 
The continuation of the storm prevented the attack of 
the enemy, and many useful lives were saved for 
a better purpose. The battle would have been a 
bloody one, as the Americans were in high spirits to 
try again their mettle with the British regulars. By 
the seventh of March the situation of Gen. Howe had 
become critical by the enforced delay. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 11 

Capt. John Rice of this regiment wrote, March 9, 
that if the British " do not depart vohmtarily they 
will be obliged to go soon." That, probably was the 
S23irit of the regiment. 

In the evening of the ninth, the Americans at- 
tempted to fortify Nook's Hill, Dorchester, which 
resulted in bringing on a terrible battle of artillery. 
More than eight hundred shot and shell were fired by 
the armies during the night, and five Americans were 
killed. 

March 10, the British commenced their prepara- 
tions for the evacuation of Boston, which was finally 
accomplished on the morning of the seventeenth. 

Ensign Sewall states in his journal, March 17 : — 

11 A. M., a party of our army who had had the smallpox landed 
and patroled Boston without the least shadow of opposition . 

In the latter part of the afternoon about five hun- 
dred troops under Col. Ebenezer Learned, with Gen. 
Artemus Ward, entered Boston from Roxbury. En- 
sign Richards carried the standard. The next day 
Gen. Washington entered the town. 

March 18, Dorothy Dudley wrote in her journal : — 

How glad to their ears were the sounds of the soldiers' tread 
keeping time to the tune of Yankee Doodle, and the shouts of the 
American regiments, as cheer after cheer was borne upon the air. 
With drums beating and colors flying they traversed the town, end 
to end. 

The main body of the army entered Boston, March 
20, and with them was Col. Edmund Phinney's regi- 
ment, which was stationed near Fort Hill, and em- 
ployed in building a battery in which were mounted 



12 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

nine twenty-four-pounder King's guns pointed toward 
the harbor. 

The occupation of Boston gave great joy to the 
colonists. It was regarded as reflecting the highest 
honor on Washington and his army, and was consid- 
ered a glorious triumph. Washington and his soldiers 
were thanked by Congress, and to commemorate the 
event a gold medal was struck, which is now depos- 
ited in the Boston Public Library. Washington's 
other medals, which are all bronze, are in the posses- 
sion of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 

It has been stated that during all the months Gen. 
Washington was in command at Cambridge less than 
twenty men were killed within our lines. 

Of his army, at the siege of Boston, Washington 
wrote as follows : — 

They were indeed, at first, an army of undisciplined husbandmen ; 
but it is, under God, to their bravery and attention to duty that I 
am indebted for that success which has procured me the only reward 
I wish to receive, the affection and esteem of my countrymen. 

After the battle of Bunker Hill, Gen. Joseph War- 
ren's body was buried on the field, but April 4 it was 
taken up, and a public funeral was held on the eighth, 
when at the head of the procession marched a com- 
pany of Col. Phinney's regiment, noted for its fine 
appearance, which was probably the reason the com- 
pany was selected. Gen. Warren's body was buried 
then in the Granary burying-ground. In 1825, it was 
removed to St. Paul's Church, and finally to Forest 
Hills Cemetery. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 13 

March 18, Gen. Heath was ordered to march five 
regiments and a portion of artillery to New York, via 
New London, Connecticut. Gen. Putnam was ordered 
to New York, March 29, and took command there, 
April 5. Gen. Washington left Boston April 4 for 
New York. Col. Phinney's regiment was under the 
command of Gen. Greene until March 31, when Gen. 
Artemas Ward took command. 

Drake says : — 

In Col. Edmund Phinney's regiment stationed in Boston, after 
the departure of the English, the men were supplied with coats and 
double-breasted jackets of undyed cloth, just as it came from the 
looms, turned up with buff facings. They had also blue breeches, 
felt hats with narrow brims and white bindings. 

Col. Hutchinson's order book says : — March 20, 
upon an alarm, Col. Phinney's and Col. Hutchinson's 
regiments are to man Fort Hill. Men, that day, 
from this regiment, were ordered to work on the Fort 
Hill battery, and Col. Phinney was the officer of the 
day. King Street, now State, was the grand parade 
ground. 

March 23, every soldier was ordered to fasten his 
accouterments to his gun every night that they might 
be prepared at a moment's warning for an alarm. 
The thirty-first. Col. Phinney was the adjutant of 
the day. April 2, this regiment furnished the guards. 
Gen. Peleg Wadsworth was then an aid-de-camp to 
Gen. Ward. 

April 6, Lieut.-Col. March was appointed the muster 
master of the division. The twentieth, Maj. Brown 



14 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT. 

was field officer. The twenty-second, Peleg Wads- 
worth was appointed brigade major. The twenty-sixth 
Maj. Brown was president of a court-martial, and the 
following order was issued by the general : — 

The Adjutant will bring no men on the parade for guards without 
being first accoutered, washed, shaved, and dressed as well as his 
clothes will admit. 

Lieut.-Col. March was the field officer the twenty- 
eighth. The following appears on the order book un- 
der same date : — 

The General directs the officer commanding the fatigue to see the 
rum drawn for the men be properly mixed with water and served to 
them at such times as will do them the most good. 

The next day Col. Phinney was the field officer, and 
May 2, Maj. Brown served in the same capacity. 

Capt. Watkins was the officer of the day May 12, 
Capt. Tyler the fourteenth, Capt. Hill the twenty-first, 
Capt. Watkins again the twenty-second, Capt. Fernald 
the twenty-ninth and Capt. Wilde the thirtieth. The 
officers were allowed " one dollar and one-third" for 
each man they recruited and mustered. 

The seventeenth, a large ship from Ireland, which 
had been captured loaded with munitions of war, was 
brought into Boston harbor, and men from this regi- 
ment were placed on guard over her. 

Col. Phinney wrote home May 26 : — 

I am well and in high spirits and hope to continue so until every 
Tory is banished from this land of liberty and our rights and privi- 
leges are restored. 

June 4, one hundred and seventy soldiers from this 
regiment, with others, went to the islands to drive 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 15 

away the British shipping, which they succeeded in 
doing without the loss of any of their men. The 
same day Col. Phinney was appointed president of a 
court martial, and the seventh, Capt. Hart WilHams 
was exempted from regimental duty, while as assist- 
ant engineer he superintended the works, under con- 
struction by this regiment, in order to forward them 
with all possible despatch. The ninth, the order book 
says : — 

As Col. Phinney's regiment is employed upon works out of town, 
they cannot get their milk in the morning before they march off to 
fatigue, therefore the commissary will supply them with provisions 
in the same manner he did last winter so long as they shall be em- 
ployed out of town. 

« 

The same day it says : — 

The guards will shave and powder and be on parade at 8. 

The eleventh, Capt. Fernald was officer of the day, 
Capt, Hill the twelfth, Capt. Tyler the fourteenth, and 
Capt. York the sixteenth. The twenty-first. Col. Phin- 
ney was ordered to relieve the magazine guard at 
Jamaica Plain with a sergeant, corporal, and ten pri- 
vates. The twenty-seventh, Capt. Hill was the officer 
of the day, Capt. Williams the twenty-eighth, Capt. 
Watkins the twenty-ninth, Capt. Wilde the thirtieth, 
July 1, Capt. Sawyer, and the sixth Col. Phinney. 

Those who wished were allowed to be inoculated for 
the smallpox, and July 6, Col. Phinney's quartermas- 
ter was ordered to inform the commissary the next 
morning early what part of the regiment will draw 
rice, etc., instead of meat, and the surgeons and mates 



16 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT. 

were ordered to exert themselves to take the best of 
care of the men under the operation of the smallpox. 
The officers were ordered to turn out their men before 
sunrise for exercise, " as their health depends greatly 
on their taking the morning air and moderate exer- 
cise." Captains Rice and Stuart, and several others, 
died of the smallpox while the regiment was at Boston. 

Gen. Ward, appreciating the value of the inspiring 
music of the fife and drum to the soldiers, ordered, 
April 9, that a drum-major and a fife-major be ap- 
pointed for each regiment to instruct the fifers and 
drummers in their duty and said further : " This is by 
no means to be neglected, as martial music is always 
pleasing to the soldiers and gives luster and dignity to 
every corps." The twenty-ninth, he commended them 
for their improvement and hoped that it would con- 
tinue. The next day all the drummers and fifers were 
ordered to meet at the " bottom " of Boston Common 
to practise, twice a week, and it was recommended that 
the musicians of each regiment " emulate each other 
in striving to excel in this pleasant part of military 
discipline." 

April 21, the order book says : — 

Complaints having been made to the general that many of the sol- 
diers frequent grog shops and tippling houses whereby they waste 
their time and money and destroy their health and reputation, the 
general therefore forbids all such practises and commands all officers 
to exert themselves to prevent such evil among men. 

The general under date of May 5, called attention to 
the evil of profane swearing in the army and said, — 
" Unless we pay sacred regard to the duty of sobriety 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 17 

and virtue we cannot expect the blessing of heaven, 
nor the approbation of the wise and good among men." 

While in Boston, the officers exercised particular 
care of the soldiers in regard to the cleanliness of their 
persons and linen, probably on account of the small- 
pox. They were also ordered not to take undue lib- 
erties with the property of others, and forbidden to 
address any of the inhabitants as Tories. 

July 5, Gen. Washington was empowered by Con- 
gress to order, "thethree fullest regiments stationed 
at Cambridge to be sent to Canada. An equal number 
of militia to take their places." These regiments were 
to reenforce the Northern army then at Lake Cham- 
plain. Of the condition of that army at that time, 
John Adams wrote his wife in July, 1776 : — 

Our army at Crown Point is an object of wretchedness enough to 
fill a human mind with horror ; disgraced, defeated, discontented, 
dispirited, diseased, naked, undisciplined, eaten up with vermin, no 
clothes, beds, blankets, no medicines, victuals, but salt pork and 
floui'. 

The ninth, Gen. Washington ordered Gen. Ward to 
inarch the four following regiments : — 

Col. Asa Whitcomb's 6th Continental Regiment. 
Col. Edward Phinney's 18th " " 

Col. Samuel Brewer's Militia " 

Col. Aaron Willard's " " 

In Col. Aaron Willard's regiment was a company 
from Maine under the command of Capt. John Went- 
worth of Cape Elizabeth. 

July 4, independence was declared, and the Conti- 
nental Congress said, " We have counted the cost of 



18 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

this contest and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary 
slavery." The eighteenth, from the balcony of the 
old State House on King Street, which was soon 
changed to State Street, was read the Declaration of 
Independence in the presence of soldiers and citizens. 
The soldiers fired thirteen volleys of small arms, and 
the batteries fired salutes. From Fort Hill Battery, 
where Fort Hill Square now is. Col. Phinney's men did 
their part in saluting the birth of the new government, 
which has grown beyond the dreams of the most san- 
guine of those times. 

Col. Edward Phinney's regiment started on its march 
towards Fort Ticonderoga, Thursday, August 8, and 
lodged that night at Roxbury. The next day the reg- 
iment started at 9 A. M., marching through Water- 
town, Waltham, into Weston, where the men lodged. 
The tenth, marched through Lincoln, Concord, Acton, 
and probably lodged at Littleton. The next day 
marched to Groton where the men lodged. The twelfth, 
marched through Lunenburg, where the " regiment v/as 
agreeably entertained by music," to Fitchburgh, where 
it staid that night. The next day marched " over bad 
roads " to Ashburnham. Michael Tierney was tried 
here for theft and sentenced to receive thirty-nine 
lashes, which he received the next day. The four- 
teenth, marched to Winchendon, where the regiment 
put up about noon, because of the other regiments 
ahead. The next day resumed march through the 
woods to Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. The sixteenth, 
marched to Swanzey, where most of the regiment put 
up. The next day went through Keene, Surry, to 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S EEGIMENT. 19 

Walpole. The eighteenth, proceeded to Charleston 
Number Four, where the regiment staid two days. 
The twenty-first, marched about 9 A. M., and crossed 
the ferry over the Connecticut River, but all of 
the regiment did not get over until about 3 P. M., 
when it moved into Springfield, Vermont, " N. Y. 
Government." The next day, marched to Cavendish, 
through about eight miles of woods, with '• bad roads 
and poor entertainment," then proceeded about eight 
miles more into the woods, where the night was spent 
in a bush encampment. The twenty-fourth, marched 
all day, but saw no house, and encamped in the woods. 
The next day resumed the march and came to a house 
about four o'clock, where it was expected that beef 
would be killed, but the men were disappointed, then 
pushed on to the next house and probably camped in 
the woods, in a rainstorm. The twenty-sixth, they 
marched four or five miles to a village near Otter Creek, 
where the regiment put up. It was still raining and 
the condition of the men was anything but comfort- 
able. This village was Rutland, Vermont, and here 
Col. Phinney wrote a letter to Gen. Gates, August 28, 
explaining the cause of the delay. The twenty-seventh 
it rained, and the regiment did not move, but the 
twenty-eighth, marched on to Otter Creek, where a 
court-martial was held, and tried Corp. Buzzell, Moses 
Gamman and Jonathan Norton for desertion, and for 
punishment they were given five lashes each, which 
were ten short of the sentence. The crime of desertion 
was not then considered so grave an offense as now. 
Gen. Washington said, " even officers of the regular 



20 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

troops often left the camp without permission, went to 
their homes or elsewhere with great coolness, drew 
their pay at their place of abode, and vegetated on in 
the ordinary existence, without a thought of return 
to their standard and this without the slightest punish- 
ment." The camp discipline was very irksome to most 
of the men, as their lives had been lived in the- free- 
dom of the new settlements. The balance of the 
twenty-eighth, and part of the next day, the regiment 
was crossing Otter Creek, and then proceeded to Cas- 
tleton. The teams and baggage got over the Creek 
the thirtieth, when the regiment marched into the 
woods to Poultney River and went into camp. This 
was on the boundary line between \'ermont and New 
York. September 1, the regiment had crossed the 
river, and. arrived at Skenesborough, now Whitehall, 
New York. The next day the men embarked on bat- 
teaux and proceeded to Mount Independence, opposite 
Fort Ticonderoga. The batteaux used on Lake Cham- 
plain in 1776, were thirty-six feet long, eight feet wide, 
and had a mast where a blanket could be put on for a 
sail when the wind was favorable. 

The Northern army, at Lake Champlain, was under 
the command of Gen. Philip Schuyler, with Gen. 
Horatio Gates second in command, they having super- 
seded the gallant Gen. John Sullivan, July 5, on the 
arrival of the army at Crown Point in their sad retreat 
up the river Sorel from the St. Lawrence River. 

The regiment had no tents, and the men were put 
into a long storehouse until they could build them- 
selves barracks to live in. They were engaged in this 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT. 



^i 



work and preparing a parade-ground until September 
9, when two hundred of the men were ordered to Fort 
George, at the south end of Lake George, where they 
arrived on the morning of the tenth. The next day 
part of the regiment were engaged in transporting 
flour in batteaux over the lake to Fort Ticonderoga. 
and continued in this service until the twenty-seventh, 
when Col. Phinney's men were ordered to return to 
Mount Independence where they arrived in the even- 
ing of the twenty-eighth. They were assigned to the 
Second brigade. 

On the summit of Mount Independence the Amer- 
icans erected a star fort ; the sides and foot of the 
mountain were strengthened with works to the water's 
edge, and the entrenchments were well lined with 
heavy cannon. Among the weapons used in the forts 
by our soldiers were poles twelve feet long, with sharp 
iron points, to be employed against assailants when 
they mounted the breastworks. 

After the British withdrew, about November first, 
the floating bridge, four hundred yards long, between 
Mount Independence and Fort Ticonderoga, was com- 
pleted. To protect this bridge a boom was laid across 
the lake so the enemy's vessels could not approach it. 

Charles H. Jones, Esquire, in his history of the 
Northern campaign of 1776, says: — 

The story of the suffering, the zeal, the patience, the patriotism, 
the perseverance and valor of the men who won the victory at Ti- 
conderoga, should be held in grateful remembrance by their coun- 
trymen to the latest generation. Like the story of Valley Forge, it 
is not told in startling deeds of blood. Though but a few had per- 
ished by the sword, yet five thousand who had gone out at the call 



22 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT. 

of their country never returned. More than one out of every three 
became victinas of pestilence, want and exposure, and many of those 
who passed through the campaign came out of it with broken con- 
stitutions to fill premature graves. 

Timothy Remick's order book, kept at Fort Ticon- 
deroga, says under date of October 11 : — 

The long stillness and seeming suspense of the enemy strongly 
indicate that they are meditating some stroke of importance. It 
therefore behooves every officer and soldier of this army to be ex- 
ceedingly vigilant and alert, particularly when on duty. 

October 13, the army was alarmed by firing on the 
lake between the two fleets, and about four o'clock 
the array manned the forts ready for action. The 
next morning they were called to quarters before day- 
light. On the eleventh there had been a naval battle 
on Lake Champlain between Sir Guy Carleton and 
Generals Arnold and Waterbury, which continued four 
hours, and the American fleet was obliged to with- 
draw. On the thirteenth, our fleet was attacked by 
the British, who destroyed or captured eleven of our 
vessels, but five escaped, and this last attack was the 
one that caused the alarm at Mount Independence 
that day. Gen. Arnold and his men fought bravely, 
but were overpowered. Our army lost about one hun- 
dred men, and the retreat of the fleet was conducted 
with great skill. 

Sergeant Remick's order book, under date of Octo- 
ber 14, at Ticonderoga, has the following entry : — 

As every regiment is well acquainted with their alarm-posts, the 
General expects the troops will be alert in marching to suppport the 
works they are severally appointed to defend. He has the utmost 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT. 23 

dependence in the bravery and fidelity of the whole army, and be- 
lieves when they are rallied to action they will show themselves 
worthy of the cause they are engaged to defend. He returns his 
thanks to Gen. Arnold, the officers and seamen and marines of the 
fleet for the gallant defense they made against the great superiority 
of the enemjj's force. Such magnanimous behaviour will establish 
the fame of American arms throughout the Globe. 

The nineteeenth, the order book says : — 

The General has no doubt but a vigorous defense will be made 
with that animated zeal becoming soldiers who are also citizens of 
America. 

The weather during the fall of 1776 was stormy, 
and the soldiers suffered much from exposure. In the 
order book it states that the men shall in wet weather 
have served them one-half gill of rum, and if very 
wet they shall have a gill. There was such a defi- 
ciency of entrenching tools that the men were divided 
into squads so that they could take their turns, and 
thus have them in use all of the time. 

After the destruction of so much of our fleet, Octo- 
ber 13, there was a reasonable fear of the British fleet, 
flushed with victory, reenforced, perhaps, by their 
army. A strict watch was kept for the enemy, and Octo- 
ber 28 they appeared before Fort Ticonderoga, and a 
general alarm was sounded for the army to man the 
forts. Thirteen thousand Americans were under arms. 
The fleet withdrew without making an attack, and the 
Northern campaign of 1776 was at an end. The 
British troops withdrew to Canada about November 4, 
where they remained all winter. In the spring of 
1777, they emerged, reenforced by the German troops, 
to embark in the campaign which ended the next 



24 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

October in the surrender of the army of Gen. Bur- 
goyne, which was probably the most important event 
during the Revolutionary war. 

A distinguished writer, speaking of the Northern 
campaign, said it was " an enterprise bold in concep- 
tion, daring and hardy in execution, full of ingenious 
expedients and hazardous exploits; and which, had not 
unforeseen circumstances counteracted its well-devised 
plans, might have added all Canada to the American 
confederacy." 

November 20, Col. Phinney's regiment marched 
about 9 A. M. from Mount Independence, and arrived 
about noon at Lake George, where it encamped in the 
woods for want of boats to transport the men over the 
lake. Here the regiment remained until November 
22, when three of the companies embarked and arrived 
at Fort George, at the head of the lake, about nine 
o'clock of the twenty-third. The other five compa- 
nies of the regiment arrived the twenty-fourth, and 
Col. Phinney took command of Fort George, supersed- 
ing Col. John Stark, as he probably was the senior 
officer. The duty of the regiment here was trans- 
porting flour over the lake to the other forts. 

December 8, the regiment was mustered when the 
rolls of companies were made. The twelfth, " a she- 
male," was drummed out of camp. On Christmas day 
there was no snow on the ground, and the lake was 
not frozen over, but the next day the snow was a foot 
deep. 

The regiment was discharged the last of December 
at Fort George, and many started for home the next 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 25 

day by the way of Fort Edward and Albany. Some 
of the men came from Albany through the following 
towns: Phillipstown, Pittsfield, Glasgow, Westfield, 
Springfield, Wilbraham, Palmer, Brookfield, Spencer, 
Leicester, Worcester, Northborough, Marlborough, 
Sudbury, "Weston, Watertown and Cambridge, to Bos- 
ton. Some came by a more direct route through 
Hadley. 

After the colonies had declared their independence 
the war was no more a rebellion, but a struggle to 
establish a government, which must be continued to 
the end. Congress realizing this, made provisions 
in October for raising an army for three years or the 
war, as the prospect was that the new government 
would not be established in a few months, but that it 
must be a long and bitter contest. 

Congress passed, October 6, the following resolution : 

Resolved, That further encouragement for gentlemen of abilities 
to engage as commissioned officers in the battalions to be furnished 
by the different states for service during the war, their monthly pay 
to be increased as follows: — A Colonel, $75.00; Lieut. -Col., 
$60.00; Major, $50.00; Capt., $40.00; Lieut., $27.00 ; Quarter 
Master, $27.50; Adjt., $40.00. 

The pay of the non-commissioned officers and pri- 
vates for the regiment was to be as follows : — ser- 
geant-major and quartermaster sergeant, $9.00; drum 
major and sergeant, $8.00 ; corporal and drummers, 
$7.33 ; and privates, $6.67. The commissioned offi- 
cers were to be allowed one soldier each for a waiter. 

The soldiers of the Northern army were urged to 
reenlist, and every argument was used to induce them 



26 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

to continue in the service until the close of the war. 
They were offered in October a bounty of twenty dol- 
lars and a complete suit of clothing, to consist of two 
linen hunting-shirts, two pairs stockings, two pairs 
shoes, one pair breeches, one waistcoat, two pairs of 
overalls, two shirts, and one leather cap or hat amount- 
ing in the whole to twenty dollars, or that sum to be 
paid to the soldier. The order book at Ticonderoga 
says : — 

This noble bounty of S40.00 and 100 acres of land at the end of 
the war is such an ample and generous gratuity from the United 
States that the General is convinced no American will hesitate to 
enroll himself to defend his counti'y's posterity from every attempt 
of tyranny to enslave them. 

November 2, a committee of Congress arrived in 
camp to engage the officers and make the arrange- 
ments for the enlistments of the men. Col. Phinney 
retired from the service, as his affairs at home required 
his attention, but he was an active patriot until the 
close of the war. Nearly one hundred of the regi- 
ment reenlisted for three years mostly in the regiment 
of Col. Brewer. 

The condition of the affairs of the colonies in De- 
cember was gloomy and discouraging. The time of 
the regiments was expiring, and new recruits did not 
arrive in sufficient numbers to take their places. 
" Gen. Washington," Thacher says, " was suffering 
the most agonizing distress for the fate of his army 
and his country." The only bright ray for the colo- 
nists was that Christmas night, Washington, during a 
severe snow- and rain-storm, crossed the Delaware, 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT. 



27 



fought and won the battle of Trenton, which revived 
the drooping spirits of the patriots. 

The Roster of Col. Edmuni> Phinney's Eighteenth Conti- 



nental Regiment 

Colonel, 

Lieut. Colonel, 

Major, 

Surgeon, 

Surgeon's Mate, 

Adjt., 

Quartermaster, 

Q. M. Sergt., 
Chaplain, 



Edmund Phinney, 
Samuel March, 
Jacob Brown, 
Samuel Adams, 
John Sprague, 
George Smith, 
Moses Banks, 
Edward Milliken, 
Ebenezer Storer, 
Jacob Foster, 
John Carnes, " 

Total 11 men. 

first company. 

Wentworth Stuart, Captain, 

Jonathan Sawyer, Lieut, and Capt., 

Caleb Rowe, First Lieut., 

Josiah Jenkins, Second Lieut., 

Archelaus Lewis, Ensign, 
Joseph Stuart, " 

Total 87 men. 

SECOND COMPANY. 



1776. 

Gorham. 
Scarborough. 
North Yarmouth. 
Truro, Mass. 
Maiden, " 
Cape Elizabeth. 
Scarborough. 
u 

Wells. 
Berwick. 



Gorham. 

u • 

Stan dish. 
Gorham. 
Falmouth. 
Scarborough. 



Tobias Fernald, 


Captain, 






Kittery, 


James Donnell, 


First Lieut. . 


) 




York. 


Henry Sewall, 


Ensign and Sec. 


Lieut. 


a 
? 


Timothy Remick, 


Ensign, 






Kittery. 


Total 68 men. 










THIRD 


COMPANY. 





John Rice, Captain, Scarborough. 

Bartholomew York, First Lieut, and Cupt., Falmouth. 



28 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

Crispus Graves, Second and First Lieut., North Yarmouth. 
Austin Alden, Second Lieut., Gorham. 

Ebenezer Hogg, Ensign, Hamstead. 

James Perkins, " Gorham. 

Total 69 men. 

FOURTH COMPANY. 

Jeremiah Hill, Captain, Saco. 

William Baston, First Lieut., "Wells. 

Samuel Stubbs, Second Lieut., North Yarmouth. 

Simeon Goodwin, Ensign, Pepperrellborough(Saco) 
Total 72 men. 

FIFTH COMPANY. 

Hart Williams, Captain, Gorham. 

William McLellan, First Lieut., " 

Gary McLellan , Second and First Lieut. , ' ' 
John Perkins, Ensign, " 

David Watts, Ensign and Second Lieut. , " 

James Means, Ensign, Stroudwater. 

Total 82 men. 

SIXTH COMPANY. 

Nathan Watkins, Captain, Hopkinton (Mass.). 

Silas Burbank, First Lieut., Scarborough. 

Jacob Lyon, Second Lieut., Gageborough (Windsor, 

Mass.). 
Peter W. Brown, Ensign and Second Lieut., North Yarmouth. 
Robert Walker, Ensign, Gageborough (Windsor, 

Mass.). 
Total 82 men. 

SEVENTH COMPANY. 

Silas Wilde, Captain, Braintree (Mass.). 

Daniel Merrill, First Lieut., Arundel. 

WiUiam Frost, Second Lieut., Kittery. 

John Pray, Ensign, " 

Total 83 men. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 29 

EIGHTH COMPANY. 

Abraham Tyler, Captain, Scarborough. 

Elisha Meserve, First Lieut., " 

Edward MiUiken, Second Lieut., " 

Solomon Meserve, Ensign, " 



Total 70 men. 




SUMMARY. 




Field and Staff Officers, 


11 


First Company, 


87 


Second " 


68 


Third " 


69 


Fourth " 


72 


Fifth 


82 


Sixth " 


82 


Seventh " 


83 


Eighth " 


70 



Total, 624 " 

This regiment was composed mostly of men from the 
Province of Maine, the others were from towns in what 
is now Massachusetts. Col. Phinney and his men, by 
circumstances, had no opportunity to distinguish them- 
selves in an important battle, but from the records 
that have been preserved, they performed their duty 
with a fidelity that was honorable to themselves and 
the Commonwealth. They acted well their part in 
the struggle for an independent government, and 
their posterity will always regard with satisfaction 
that their ancestors were men who had the courage 
of their convictions and will be proud that their fore- 
fathers assisted in making a chapter in the history 
of the Revolution. 



30 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT. 

The history of Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot, 
gives biographical sketches of the commissioned ofiS- 
cers, and those there given are omitted here. Those 
that are given in this history held no commissions in 
that regiment in 1775, or what is given is additional 
to that already published. 

The Eighteenth Continental or Foot Regiment in the Ser- 
vice OF the United Colonies, Jan. 1, 1776. 

field officers. 

Edmund Phinney, Colonel, Appointed Jan. 1, 1776. 

Samuel March, Lieut Col., " " " 

Jacob Brown, Major, " " " 

sick, absent on furlough by Dr. Potts. 

STAFF officers. 

Samuel Adams, Surgeon, Appointed Jan. 1, 1776. On com- 
mand at Albany. 

John Sprague, Surgeon's Mate, Appointed Jan. 1, 1776. Sick 
in garrison. 

George Smith, Adjt., Appointed Jan. 1, 1776. Reengaged as 
Capt. with Col. Patterson, Nov. 13, 1776. 

Moses Banks, Quarter Master, Appointed Jan. 1, 1776. Cash- 
iered July 26, 1776. 

Edward Milliken, Quarter Master, Appointed July 27, 1776. On 
command at Albany. 

Ebenezer Storer, Q. M. Sergt., Appointed April, 1776. 

Jacob Foster, Chaplain, Appointed Jan. 1, 1776. Resigned 
Feb. 28, 1776. 

John Carnes, Chaplain, Appointed March 1, 1776. 

The above is taken from the original December re- 
turn in the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. XLVI, page 9. 

Of Col. Edmund Phinney a biographical sketch ap- 
pears in the history of the 31st Regiment of Foot, but 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 31 

it must have been his great-grandfather, who is said to 
have been a soldier in the Swamp Fight in 1675. His 
first wife was EUzabeth Meserve, born at Scarborough, 
September 2, 1730, a daughter of Clement Meserve, 
the third generation of the name, who married Sarah 
Decker, October 12, 1726. Clement Meserve was born 
in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, about 1703, and lived 
in the towns of Newington, New Hampshire, Scarbo- 
rough, Gorham, Standish and Bristol. Col. Phinney's 
children were Decker, Sarah, Joseph, Betty, Edmund 
Jr., Stephen, James and Nathaniel. 

Surgeon Samuel Adams was born in Killingly, Con- 
necticut, in 1745 ; studied with Dr. Nathaniel Free- 
man of Sandwich, Massachusetts, and is said to have 
practised at Truro, Massachusetts, from which place he 
entered the army. He is said to have had four wives 
and nine children. He was surgeon of this regiment 
January 1 to December 31, 1776, surgeon of the 
Third Continental Artillery May 14, 1778, hospital 
physician and surgeon October 6, 1780, and served 
until the close of the war. He died at Bath, Maine, 
March 6, 1819, aged seventy-four years. 

Surgeon's Mate John Sprague was from Maiden, 
Massachusetts, where he was born January 13, 1754, 
and was the son of Phineas and Hannah Sprague. 
May 1, 1775, he was surgeon's mate to Dr. Walter 
Hastings, surgeon of Col. Ebenezer Bridge's regiment, 
and served in Col. Phinney's 18th Continental regi- 
ment from January 1 until December 31, 1776. In 
1777, he was surgeon of the armed schooner Active, 
Capt. Andrew Gardner. This vessel was in the 



32 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT. 

unfortunate fleet of Com. Manley, and. with others, he 
was carried to Halifax, Nova Scotia, as a prisoner. On 
being exchanged, John Sprague reentered the service, 
but was again unfortunate, and suffered capture. He 
was carried to Kinsale, then a naval depot in Ire- 
land. He remained there until the winter of 1781-82. 
On return, he was again commissioned, this time as 
surgeon of the Massachusetts sloop Winthrop, Capt. 
George Little, and was in that position from Ma}'' 4, 
1782, until March 17, 1783. Edward Preble was first 
lieutenant of the Winthrop. 

John Sprague returned to Maiden and passed the 
remainder of his life as a physician there. He died of 
consumption, October 21, 1803, aged forty-nine years. 

Adjutant George Smith was from Cape Elizabeth, 
and he married Deborah Bayley, daughter of Daniel 
Bayley of the same town, before the war. He was a 
tailor by trade, and entered the service May 7, 1775, 
in Col. Phinney's regiment, served through 1776 in 
this regiment, was appointed captain in Col. Joseph 
Vose's 1st Massachusetts regiment, January 1, 1777, 
and resigned May 3, 1779. He was at the siege of 
Boston, marched to Fort Ticonderoga, served in the 
campaign of 1777, and spent the winter at Valley 
Forge. 

Chaplain Jacob Foster was ordained at Berwick, 
Maine, in 1757, where he preached twenty-one years. 
He was chaplain of this regiment from January 1 to 
February 28, 1776, when he resigned. 

Chaplain John Carnes was appointed March 1, 1776, 
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Rev. 
Jacob Foster. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 33 

Quartermaster Sergeant Ebenezer Storer was born 
in Wells, Maine, July 9, 1758. He was the son of John 
Jr., and Mary (Langdon) Storer. His mother was the 
eldest daughter of John Langdon Esq., of Portsmouth, 
New Hampshire, and she married for her second hus- 
band Jeremiah Hill, Esq., of Saco, the father of Capt. 
Jeremiah Hill of this regiment. Ebenezer Storer mar- 
ried first, November 10, 1785, Eunice Titcomb, daugh- 
ter of Dea. Benjamin Titcomb of Falmouth, and she 
died November 13, 1798, aged thirty-nine years. He 
married again, June 16, 1800, Catherine Stevenson, 
a daughter of Capt. John and Tabitha (Longfellow) 
Stevenson of Gorham. By both wives he had a large 
family. He was a prominent merchant at Portland, 
Maine, for over twenty years, removed to New York, 
returned to Gorham, Maine, where he died January 
20, 1846, aged eighty-seven years. It was said of 
him that he " was a respected citizen and a gentleman 
of military tastes and polished manner." 

Sergeant Storer served as a private in Capt. Samuel 
Sawyer's Company, in Col. James Scamman's regi- 
ment at Cambridge, in 1775, enlisted January 1, 1776, 
as sergeant in Capt. Jeremiah Hill's Company, in Col. 
Phinney's 18th Continental regiment, appointed en- 
sign in Col. Samuel Brewer's regiment November 13, 
1776, and made lieutenant in same regiment, under 
Col. Sprout, July 5, 1779, transferred to the 2d Mas- 
sachusetts regiment January 1, 1781, and served until 
November 3, 1783 ; almost eight and one-half years' 
service. He witnessed the battle of Bunker Hill, was 
at the siege of Boston, marched to Fort Ticonderoga 



34 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

in 1776, served in the Saratoga campaign, was at 
Valley Forge, and no doubt participated in several bat- 
tles. He was a member of the Society of the Cincin- 
nati. He also served as the paymaster and clothier 
of his regiment, and signed the oath of allegiance at 
Valley Forge. 

FIRST COMPANY. 

Second Lieutenant Josiah Jenkins was from Gorham, 
and his wife was Prudence Davis. He married in 1776. 
They had seven children. He was a sergeant in Capt. 
Wentworth Stuart's Company in Col. Phinney's 31st 
Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, second lieu- 
tenant in this regiment February 1, first lieutenant 
April 18 to December 31, 1776, and was captain in 
the 12th Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1777. 
He was discharged April 1, 1779, and died in 1831, 
aged eighty-one years. 

Ensign Archelaus Lewis lived at Cumberland Mills. 
He was born at Berwick, Maine, February 15, 1753 ; 
married (1) March 14, 1779, Rebecca Hubbart, who 
died December 17, 1788 ; (2) September 18, 1791, 
Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Rev. Thomas Browne, 
who died September 15, 1804; (3) October 10, 1807, 
Frances Angier, who died November 15, 1815. He 
died at Westbrook, January 2, 1834, aged eighty 
years. 

Ensign Lewis was a minute-man in Capt. John 
Brackett's Company, April 21, 1775; sergeant under 
same captain in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot 
in 1775 ; was ensign in this regiment from February 1 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT. 35 

to April 18, 1776 ; second lieutenant to December 31, 
1776, and lieutenant and adjutant in Col. Joseph 
Vose's 1st Massachusetts regiment, January 1, 1777, 
to February 20, 1779. 

Ensign Joseph Stuart of Scarborough was a fifer in 
Capt. Wentworth Stuart's Company in Col. Phinney's 
31st Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, sergeant 
in this regiment January 1 to April 18, 1776, pro- 
moted to ensign, and deserted November 6, 1776. 

FIRST COMPANY. 

A Muster Roll of the late Capt. Wentworth Stuart's, now Capt. 
Jonathan Sawyer's Company, in Col. Edmund Phinney's Battallion 
of Massachusetts Bay Forces. Garrison at Fort George, Dec. 8, 
A. D. 1776. 

Date of Enlistment. 

Wentworth Stuart, Capt., Jan. 1, 1776. Died at Brookline, April 17, 

1776. 

.Jonathan Sawyer, Lieut. 

& Capt., " Promoted Apr. 18, 1776. 

Caleb Rowe, 1st Lieut., " Discharged Feb. 1, 1776. 

Josiah Jenkins, 2d " " 2d Lieut. Feb. 1, 1st Lieut. 

April 18. Reengaged as 
Capt. in Col. Brewer's Regt. 
Nov. 13, 1776. 

Archelaus Lewis, Ensign, " Ensign, Feb. 1. 2d Lieut., 

April 18. Reengaged with 
Col. Patterson, Nov. 13, 1776. 

Joseph Stuart, Ensign, " Ensign, April 18. Deserted 

Nov. 6, 1776. 

James Webb, Sergt., " Deserted Nov. 6, 1776. 

Nathaniel Adson, " " Reengaged Nov. 13, 1776. 

George Johnston, " " Sergt. Feb. 1. Discharged 

Aug. 15, 1776. 

Adriel Warren, " '• Sergt, April 17. On com- 

mand at Albany. 



36 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEy's REGIMENT. 



James Irish, Sergt., 
John Thurlo, " 

George Tacara, Drummer, 
Keuben Cookson, Corp., 
Elijah Davis, Corp., 



John Davis, " 
Amos Brown, " 

John Kichards, Fifer, 



Jan. 1, 1776. Sergt., Aug. 20. 



Corp., Feb. 6, Sergt., Nov. 10. 

Sick in Genl. Hospital. 
Reengaged Nov. 13, 1776. 
Reduced Feb. 6, 1776. 
Corp. Feb. 6. Sick in Genl. 

Hospital. 
Corp. Aug. 14, 1776. 
Corp. Nov. 10. Reengaged 

Nov. 17, 1776. 
Reengaged Nov. 13, 1776. 



Privates. 
Parker Adams, 

Joseph Blake, 
Ephriam Russell, 
Nathaniel Barber, 
Nathan Bangs, 
John Ballard, 
Jonathan Bean, 
Jonathan Cole, 
Moses Craige, 
Benjamin Clifford, 
Danforth Champney, 
Samuel Cavener, 
Reuben Cookson, 
Soloman Coombs, 
Josiah Cahoon, 
John Fowler, 
John Foy, 
Moses Grant, 
Caleb Green, 
George Hatch, 
Job Hall, 
Charles Hall, 
Ezekiel Hatch, 
Asa Hatch, 
Joseph Harding, 
Samuel Knights, 
Moses Lord, 



Bate of Enlistment. 

Jan. 1, 1776. On command with surgeon to 
Albany. 
" Discharged Nov. 6, 1776. 

" Deserted Aug. 4, 1776. 



Dec. 1, 1775. 



1, 
Jan. 1, 1776. 

u 

Dec. 1, 1775. 

Jan. 1, 1776. 

Dec. 1, 1775. 

(( 

u 

Jan. 1, 1776. 

Dec. 1, 1775. 

Jan. 1, 1776. 
Dec. 27, 1775. 
Jan. 1, 1776. 

May 7, 1776. 
Jan. 1, 1776. 



Reengaged Nov. 20, 1776. 
Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 



Discharged Aug. 4, 1776. 

Sick at Wellfleet, ISIov. 14, 1776. 

Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 

Deserted July 1, 1776. 
Discharged Nov. 6, 1776. 
Reengaged Nov. 17, 1776. 
Discharged Oct. 7, 1776. 

Discharged Sept. 21, 1776. 



Deserted Oct. 28th, 1776. 
Sick in Gen. Hospital. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 



37 



Ephriam Lucas, 

Richard Lowe, 
Simon Lombard, 
Ebenezer Lovell, 
Stephen Manchester, 
John Matthews, 
Moses Merrill, 
Mark Morse, 
Thomas Moses, 
Carle McMahon, 

John Mitchell, 
Bartholomew Nason, 
Aftthony Noble, 
Josiah Peabody, 
Jeremiah Pennell, 
Richard Preston, 



Dec. 1,1775. On command to guard G-en. Wash- 
ington. 
" Deserted Sept. 1st, 1776. 

" On command to Fort Edward. 

Died Nov. 15th, 1776. 
Jan. 1, 1776. Discharged Aug. 20th, 1776. 
" Sick in barracks. 



Dec. 1, 1775. 
Jan. 1, 1776. 



Dec. 1, 1775. 
Jan. 1, 1776. 



Adams Royal, 




(( 


George Robinson, 




(( 


Benjamin Rowe, 




(( 


Joseph Roberts, 




(( 


Eli Royal, 




(t 


Thomas Shaw, 




(( 


Harding Snow, 


Dec. 


1, 1775. 


John Strout, 




4, 


Prince Strout, 


Jan. 


1, 1776. 


Moses Spencer, 




u 


William Smith, 


Dec. 


1, 1775. 


Elias Starbord, 


Jan. 


1, 1776. 


Ephriam Smith, 


Dec. 


1, 1775. 


Joel Simmons, 


Jan. 


1, 1776. 


Simeon Sanborn, 


Nov. 27, 1776, 


Daniel Toward, 


Jan. 


1, 1776. 


James Thurlo, 


Dec. 


1, 1775. 


William Thompson, 




" 


David Wilson, 




u 


Samuel Webster, 


Jan. 


1,1776. 


Jonathan Whitney, 


Dec. 


1, 1775. 


John Warren, 


Jan. 


1, 1776. 



Died July 23d, 1776. 
On command with Gen. Wash- 
ington. 
Deserted Aug. 1, 1776. 
Discharged Sept. 26th, 1776. 
Reengaged Nov. 13, 1776. 

Reengaged Nov. 13, 1776. 

Nov. 13, 1776. Sick in 
Genl. Hospital. 
" Nov. 13, 1776. 

Died Aug. 28, 1776. 
Discharged Sept. 20, 1776. 
Sick in barracks. 
Deserted July 23, 1776. 

Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 



Discharged Nov. 6, 1776. 



Deserted July 1, 1776. 
Discharged Feb. 1, 1776. 

On command attending the sick at 
Albany, reengaged Nov. 17,1776. 
Sick in Genl. Hospital. 
Deserted July 1, 1776. 

Discharged Sept. 8, 1776. 
Sick in Genl. Hospital. 
Died May 23, 1776. 



38 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

Thomas Wallis, Dec. 1, 1775. Deserted July 1, 1776. 

John Young, Jan. 1, 1776. Sick in barracks. 
Isaac Ilsley York, " 

Isaac York, " On guard. 

The original roll is in the Massachusetts Archives, 
Volume XLVI, page 8. 87 men. 

SECOND COMPANY. 

Capt. Tobias Fernald was born at Kittery, Maine, 
February 1, 1744, married in 1780 Dorcas Mclntire of 
York, Maine, and had two daughters, Harriet and 
Juliet. He lived on land now occupied by the Navy 
Yard at Kittery. He had the small-pox in Boston in 
April, 1776, and died August 15, 1784, aged forty 
years. 

Capt. Fernald was first a captain in Col. Scamman's 
regiment at Cambridge, from May to December, 1775, 
in this regiment January 1, to November 6, 1776, and 
October 22, was ordered to do the duty of major dur- 
ing the absence of Maj. Brown. He was major in Col. 
Brewer's 12th Massachusetts regiment, November 6, 
1776, promoted to lieutenant-colonel in Col. Michael 
Jackson's 8th Massachusetts regiment, March 6, 1779, 
transferred to Col. Marshall's 10th Massachusetts regi- 
ment January 1, 1781, and retired January 1, 1783. 

First Lieutenant James Donnell of York, Maine, was 
a first lieutenant in Col. Scamman's regiment at Cam- 
bridge from May until December, 1775, in this regi- 
ment January" 1, to November 13, 1776, promoted to 
captain and served until December 31. He was com- 
missioned captain in the 12th Massachusetts regiment 
January 1, 1777, and resigned July 5, 1779. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 39 

Second Lieutenant Timothy Remick was born in 
Kittery, married in 1775 Mercy Staples of Kittery. 
He came home from the army sick and died in Feb- 
ruary, 1785, aged twenty-eight years. 

Lieutenant Remick was a corporal in Scamman's 
regiment at Cambridge in 1775, sergeant in this com- 
pany January 1, to November 13, 1776, when he was 
promoted to second lieutenant and served until Decem- 
ber 31. He was first lieutenant in the 12th Massachu- 
setts regiment January 1, 1777, captain October 14, 
1780, transferred to 1st Massachusetts regiment Janu- 
ary 1, 1781, adjutant July 1, 1781, major and bri- 
gade inspector July 8, to December, 1781, and served 
in the 1st Massachusetts regiment until June, 1783. 
He signed the oath of allegiance at Valley Forge. 

SECOND COMPANY. 

A Muster Roll of Capt. Tobias Fernald's Company in Col. Ed- 
mund Phinney's regiment. Garrison at Fort George Dec. 8th, 1776. 

Date of Enlistment. 

Tobias Fernald, Capt., .Tan. 1, 1776. Reengaged as Major Nov. 6, 1776. 
James Donnell, 1st Lieut., " " as Capt. Nov. 13, " 

George Smith, 2nd " " " as Capt. with Col. Pat- 

terson Nov. 13, 1776. 
Henry Sewall, Ensign, " " as 1st Lieut. Nov.13, " 

Timothy Remick, Sergt., " " as 2d " Nov.13, " 

Samuel Brooks, " " " 

Jotham Donnell, " " Reengaged as Sergt.Nov.15th, 1776. 

Levi Doane, " " Sick in Genl. Hospital. 

Pelatiah Hanscom, Corp., " 

George Spinney, " " Sick in Genl. Hospital. 

Obadiah Donnell, "' " On guard. 

Joshua Berry, " " Sick in Genl. Hospital. 

Nathaniel Hooper,Drummer, " Reengaged Nov. 14. 1776. 

Jeremiah Grover, Fifer, " Sick in Genl. Hospital Dec. 7. 



40 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT, 



Privates. 
Jacob Amee, 
Moses Amee, 
Nathaniel Abbott, 
Josiah Brooks, 
Thomas Cummings, 
John Cox, 
James Claridge, 
Thomas Curtis, 
Phillip Davis, 
Stephen Dixon, 
Paul Doton, 
Dennis Fernald, 
Moses Gammon, 

John Henney, 
Reuben Hanscom, 
Mark Hanscom, 
Jotham Harris, 
Noah Hutchins, 



Jan. 1, 1776. On command at Ticonderoga. 
Died Nov. 3, 1776. 
Deserted Aug. 21st, 1776. 
Discharged July 8, 1776. 



Feby 22, 1776. 
Jan. 1, " 
Jan. 1, 1776. 
Feby 16th, " 
May 21st, " 
Feby 22d, " 
Jan. 1, " 

May 23, " 
Dec. 3, 1775. 
Jan. 1, 1776. 

Dec. 1, 1775. 
Jan. 1, 1776. 



Joseph Hutchins, 


Feby 16, 


1 ( 


Thomas Hervey, 


" 17, 


(( 


Samuel Hall, 


" 23, 


u 


Robert Jemmison, 


Jan. 1, 


" 


Edmund Fernald, 


May 18, 


11 


Benjamin Jenkins, 


Jan. 13, 


^l 


John Kelley, 


" 1, 


" 


William Keating, 


Feby22, 


(( 


Theodore Lovejoy, 


Jan. 1, 


(( 


Abraham Linscott, 


May 23, 


u 


Isaac Moore, 


Jan. 1, 


(( 


James McManners, 


Jan. 1, 


1776. 


John McCastelin, 


Dec. 1, 


1775. 


John Main, 


Jan. 1, 


1776. 


Israel Murfy, 


U (1 


u 


Jonathan Mendum, 


Feby 16, 


" 


John Manson, 


" 22, 


(( 


Charles Perrin, 


" 1, 


u 


Daniel Prebble, 


May 23, 


(( 


Cato Rogers, 


Jan. 1, 


(( 



On guard. Reengaged Nov.15,1776. 
Sick in Genl. Hospital. 

Discharged Sept. 20th, 1776. 

Furlough by Col. Phinney to Bos- 
ton, Nov. 20th, 1776. 



On guard. 

Reengaged Nov. 15th, 1776. 
Deserted Sept. 30, 1776. 
Reengaged Nov. 15th, 1776. 
Died Dec. 31, 1776. 
Died April 24, 1776, in the Hos- 
pital. 
Discharged Nov. 8, 1776. 
Sick in Genl. Hospital. 
On command on board fleet. 



Reingaged in November. 

Sick in barracks. 

Died Oct. 19th, 1776. 

Reengaged. Died Dec. 26, 1776, 
in a fit. 

Died Oct. 9, 1776. 

Deserted Aug. 21, 1776. 

Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 

On command at Ticonderoga. Re- 
engaged Nov. 15, 1776. 

Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 
(( (I 

Sick in Genl. Hospital. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 41 



David Rogers, 


May 


14, 1776. 




James Rand, 


Dec. 


1, 1775. 


Sick in barracks. 


Josiah Remick, 


May 


21, 1776. 


" " Genl. Hospital. 


John Smart, 


Jan. 


1, " 


Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 


Thomas Spokesfield, 


" 


u u 




Henry Spokesfield, 


Dec. 


1, 1775. 


Sick in Genl. Hospital. 


Jacob Smith, 


Jan. 


1, 1776. 


Died April 8, 1776, of a fever. 


Daniel Sargent, 


" 


(1 (( 


Sick in Genl. Hospital. 


William Stacy, 


May 


21, " 




Benjamin Trafton, 


Feby 


22, " 




David Vickery, 


Dec. 


1, 1775. 




William Wheron, 


Jan. 


1, 1776. 




Moses Willson, 


" 


" " 


Died Oct. 31, 1776. 


Samuel Weeks, 


Feby 


18, " 


Sick in Genl. Hospital. 


James Williamson, 


Jan. 


1, " 


Deserted Sept. 30th, 1776. 



The original roll is in the Massachusetts Archives, 
Volume XL VI, page 4. 68 men. 

THIRD COMPANY. 

Second Lieutenant Austin Alden was born at Marsh- 
field, Massachusetts, March 25, 1729, and was a de- 
scendant of John Alden, the Pilgrim. He married in 
1756 Salome Lombard, daughter of Rev. Solomon 
Lombard of Gorham. She was born at Truro, Massa- 
chusetts, June 10, 1734, and died May 18, 1780, aged 
forty-three years. He settled at Gorham in 1755, and 
died there March 23, 1804, aged seventy-five years. 
He was a sergeant in Capt. Joseph Woodman's Com- 
pany May 2, to November 14, 1757, served in Capt. 
Wentworth Stuart's Company, in Col. Phinney's 31st 
Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, enlisted in 
this regiment January 1, 1776, was promoted to first 
lieutenant and November 13, 1776, he reenlisted prob- 
ably for three years in Col. Brewer's 12th Massachu- 
setts regiment. He was a deacon in the Congregational 



42 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

church, selectman, town clerk, and " ever sustained an 
unblemished character." 

Ensign James Perkins of Gorham served in Capt. 
Hart Williams' Company, in Col. Phinney's 31st Regi- 
ment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, was sergeant 
under same captain January 1, 1776, promoted to en- 
sign and transferred to Capt. Bartholomew York's 
Company in this regiment, enlisted as second lieuten- 
ant in the 15th Massachusetts Regiment January 1, 
1777, and resigned February 24, 1778. He died March 
4, 1830. 

Ensign Ebenezer Hogg of Hamstead, served as a 
sergeant in Capt. McFarland's Company, in Col. Nixon's 
regiment eight months, in 1775, joined this regiment 
January 1, 1776, promoted to ensign May 18, and was 
cashiered July 31, 1776. 

THIRD COMPANY. 

A Muster Roll of Captains John Rice and Bartholomew York in 
Col. Edmund Phinney's regiment. Garrison at Fort George, Dec. 
8th, 1776. 

Bate of Enlistment. 

John Rice, Capt., Jan. 1, 1776. Died of small-pox, May 18th, 

1776. 
Bartholomew York, " " Capt. May 18th, 1776. 

Crispus Graves, 1st Lieut., " 1st Lieut. " " " 

Austin Auldio, 2nd " " Reengaged Nov. 13, 1776, with 

Col. Brewer. 
Ebenezer Hogg, Ensign, " Ensign May 18th, Cashiered 

July 31, 1776. 
James Perkins, " Aug. 1. 1776. 

James Leary, Sergt., Jan. 1, " Reengaged Nov. 13, 1776. 

Abijah Parker, '■' " " " 

Abner Lunt, " " " " Discharged Aug. 8th, 1776. 

Samuel Bass, " May 20, " 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 



43 



James Lambert, Sergt., 



Silas Durgin, 
Benjamin Rice, 
Francis Quinn, 
Nicholas Buzzell, 
James Diall, 



Corp., 



May IS, 1776. 
Jan. 1, " 

(( n 
u u 

Feby 21, " 



Cornelius Bramhall, " Nov. 21, 1775, 
Samuel Webber, " Feby 1, 1776. 

John Newall, Drummer, Jan. 1, " 



Eobert Polley, " 


May 


1, 


a 


Francis Dizer, " 


Feby 


1, 


1776. 


John Patterson, Fifer, 


Jan. 


1, 


• u 


Privates. 








John Butler, 


Feby 


21, 


1776. 


Nicholas Buzzell, 


May 


25, 


(( 


Broadstreet Bootraan, 


Feb. 


21, 


(( 


Amos Brown, 


Jan. 


1, 


(1 


Tobias Butler, 


(( 


11 


(( 


George Bell, 


Apr. 


(( 


u 


Ebenezer Bullard, 


May 


12, 


u 


Samuel Cole, 


Jan. 


1, 


(i 


Edward Clark, 


May 


25, 


(( 


James Coolbroth, 


Jan. 


1, 


(( 


John Dunlap, 


Feby 


21, 


u 


James Fitzgerald, 


(( 


22, 


^t 


John Fitzgerald, 


u 


13, 


11 


Enoch Graffton, 


u 


1, 


(( 


James Dunlap, 


u 


21, 


(( 


Jabash Gage, 


May 


23, 


u 


Abraham Guile, 


Jan. 


1, 


u 


Jacob Hardy, 


(( 


(1 


(1 


Job Jennings, 


March 1, 


u 


James Kimball, 


May 


21, 


(( 


Abraham Millett, 


Feby 


1, 


u 


John Motes, 


li 


a 


u 


John Adverson, 


Jan, 


1, 


a 


Samuel March, 


Feby 


1, 


11 


Thomas Middletown, 


Jan. 


5, 


" 



Exchanged for Saml Bass May 

20, 1776. 
Corp. Aug. 9, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Deserted Aug. Sth, 1776. 
Reduced Aug. 28th, 1776. 
Corp. Aug. 8, 1776. Sick in 

barracks. Reengaged Nov. 

15, 1776. 
Corp. Aug. 9, 1776. 

" " 28, " 
Exchanged for Ro. Polly May 

1, 1776. 
Deserted Aug. 9, 1776. 
Drummer, Aug. 9, 1776. 
Deserted Aug. 19th, 1776. 

Sick in barracks. 

Reengaged Nov. 24, 1776. 
Discharged Aug. 28, 1776. 
Sept. 30, 1776. 
Deserted July 10, 1776. 
Discharged Aug. 28, 1776. 



Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 
Sick in barracks. 
Deserted Aug. 7, 1776. 
Discharged Oct. 2, 1776. 
Reengaged Nov. 24, 1776. 
Deserted Aug. 22, 1776. 
Discharged Aug. 28, 1776. 
Deserted Sept. 20, " 
Discharged Aug. 8, " 
Sept. 30, " 
" 20, " 
Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 
Discharged Aug. 28, 1776, 
Died March 13, 1776. 

Discharged Sept. 20, 1776. 



44 



COL. EDMUND PHINNET'S REGIMENT. 



Discharged Sept. 30, 1776. 
Died Nov. 14, 1776. 
Deserted Aug. 8, 1776. 
Died in Dec, 1776. 
Sick in barracks. 
Reengaged Nov. 24, 1776. 
Deserted Aug. 8, 1776. 
Sick in bax'racks. 
Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 
Deserted Aug. 19, 1776. 
Lame in barracks. 
Deserted Aug. 20, 1776. 
On command in the fleet. 
Discharged Sept. 30, 1776. 
Died Nov. 2, 1776. 
Discharged at muster, Dec. 8, 

1776. 
Discharged Feby 15, 1777. 

Deserted July 20, 1776. 
Reengaged Nov. 24, 1776. 
Sick in barracks. 
Reengaged Nov. 24, 1776. 

The original roll is in the Massachusetts Archives, 
Volume XLVI., page 7. 69 men. 



Samuel Middletovpn, 


May 22, 


1776. 


Stephen Mansfield, 


12, 




Benjamin Murch, 


April 10, 




John Morgan, 


Jan. 1, 




Richard Mitchell, 


i( u 




John Patten, 


Feby 12, 




John Phelman, 


(( (1 




Benjamin Parker, 


" 1, 




Joss Page, 


Jan. 1, 




Thomas Rice, 


U (( 




Benjamin Randall, 


May 12, 




David Sears, 


(( u 




Joseph Salt, 


Dec. 20, 


1775. 


Reuben Sargent, 


June 1, 


1776. 


Michael Turney, 


May 2, 




William Yance, 


" 21, 




James Milliken, 


Jan. 1, 




James Witcher, 


May 22, 




John Williams, 


April 1, 




James Whittier, 


" 




Samuel Yeaton, 


Feby 12, 




Jonathan Young, 


Sick in barracks. 



FOURTH COMPANY. 



Captain Jeremiah Hill of Saco, was born April 30, 
1747, and was the son of Jeremiah and Mary (Smith) 
Hill. He married, September 6, 1772, Mrs. Sarah 
Emery, she a daughter of Capt. Daniel and Rebecca 
(Emery) Smith of Biddeford. He was a captain in 
Scamman's York County regiment at Cambridge in 
1775, became captain in this regiment January 1, 1776, 
and January 1, 1777, was commissioned captain in Col. 
Joseph Vose's 1st Massachusetts regiment, and re- 
signed November 4, 1777. He joined the 1st Massa- 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 45 

chusetts regiment at West Point, and took part in the 
Saratoga campaign. He was commissary of prisoners 
in Rhode Island, in 1778, and was adjutant-general of 
the Bagaduce Expedition in 1779. Capt. Hill was a 
representative to the General Court, a justice of 
peace, and was the first collector of Saco, 1789 to 
1809. He had the small-pox at Boston in April, 1776, 
and died June 11, 1820, aged seventy-three years. 

First Lieutenant William Baston was from Wells, 
Maine. He enlisted May 3, 1775, in Capt. Josiah 
Bragdon's company, in Col. Scamman's regiment, and 
was commissioned first lieutenant in this regiment 
January 1, 1776, and served until December 31, 1776. 

Second Lieutenant Samuel Stubbs was from North 
Yarmouth, Maine. He was a sergeant in Capt. John 
Worthley's company, in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment 
of Foot in 1775, and served as such in this regiment 
from January 1, until August 1, when he was appoint- 
ed as second lieutenant and served until December 31, 
1776. He reenlisled in the army November 13, 1776, 
his service to commence January 1, 1777, probably for 
three years. He died March 3, 1823. 

Ensign Simeon Goodwin of Pepperrellborough (Saco), 
was a sergeant in Capt. Hill's company, in Col. Scam- 
man's regiment ; enlisted May 3, 1775, and served 
eight months at Cambridge ; he enlisted as sergeant 
in this regiment January 1, 1776, promoted to ensign 
August 1, and served until December 31, 1776. He 
was quartermaster-sergeant in Capt. Romery's com- 
pany, in Col. Storer's regiment August 30 to Novem- 
ber 30, 1777. 



46 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 



FOURTH COMPANY. 

A Muster Roll of Capt. Jeremiah Hill's Company in Col. Edmund 
Phinney's Regiment in Garrison at Fort George, December 8th, 1776. 
Date of Enlistment. 



Jeremiah Hill, Capt., 



Jan. 1, 1776. Keengaged with Col. Patter- 
son, Nov. 13, 1776. 



William Baston, 1st Lieut., " 
Moses Banks, 2nd " " 

Samuel Stubbs, " " " 



Simeon Goodman, Ensign, 



John Hill, Sergt., 

Ebenezer Stephens, " 
Charles Byles, " 

Daniel Hill, " 



Ebenezer Storer, 



Kichard Stubbs, " 
David Daniels, Corp., 
Daniel Morrison, " 
Benjamin Sanborn, " 
Levi Foss, " 

Nathan Woodman, " 
Bela Mitchell, " 

John Davis, Drummer, 
Jeremiah Banks, Fifer, 
Pomp Jackson, " 

Privates. 
Daniel Bradbury, 
James Bridget, 

Calep Barrett, 
Jonathan By ram, 



" " Promoted to Q. M. and Cash- 
iered July 26, 1776. 
" " Lieut. Aug. 1, 1776. Reengaged 
Nov. 13, 1776. On com- 
mand recruiting. 
" " Ensign Aug. 1, 1776. Left on 
command at Ticonderoga 
Saw Mills. 
" " " Died June 9, 1776. 

" " Ensign Nov. 13, 1776. 
" 4, " Discharged Aug. 1st, 1776. 
" 1, " Promoted June 10, 1776. Re- 
engaged as Ensign Nov. 
13th, 1776. 
" " " Promoted Sergt. Aug. 1, 1776. 
Reengaged as Ensign Nov. 
13, 1776. 
" 4, " Sergt. Aug. 1st, 1776. 
1, " Died July 11, 1776. 
" " Discharged Sept. 30th, 1776. 
" " Corp. July 12, 1776. 
" " " " Aug. 1, 1776. 

Jan. 1, 1776. " Oct. 1, " 

" " " Reenlisted Nov. 14th. 1776. 
Dec. 4, 1775. Discharged July 31st, 1776. 
June 15, 1776. Fifer Aug. 1. Reenlisted Nov. 
14, 1776. 

Jan. 1, 1776. Reenlisted Nov. 23d, 1776. 

" On command. Reenlisted Nov. 

1st, 1776. 
" Discharged Sept. 26th, 1776. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT. 



47 



David Byram, 
James Byram, 
Benjamin Brown, 
David Crague, 

John Cole, 



Dec. 12, 1775. 
Feby 13, 1776. 
Jan. 13, " 

" 1, " 



Ebenezer Cole, 


" 13, 


«( 


James Campbell, 


1, 


u 


Samuel Coolidge, 


" 12, 


i( 


Alexander Collier, 


May 3, 


(1 


John Chewin, 


Jan. 1, 


it 


Joseph Ceaser, 


June 28, 


(( 


Nicholas Davis, 


Jan. 1, 


(( 


James Ellison, 


May 10, 


(1 


Jonathan Fields, 


Jan. 1, 


" 


Michael Ferress, 


(( 


(( 


Joseph Hunter, 


u 


(( 


Thomas Hannaford, 


Feby 15, 


(( 


John Hannaford, 


" 19, 


(( 


Josiah Hannaford, 


June 1, 


" 


Aaron Harris, 


Jan. 1, 


1776, 


John Hobbs, 


U t( 


(( 


John Jepson, 


9, 


u 


Edward Jumper, 


Feby 13, 


(1 


John Kenrick, 


Jan. 1, 


ii 


Zephaniah Lane, 


(1 (( 


(( 


Theodore Linscott, 


Feby 19, 


;( 


Kobert Martin, 


Jan. 1, 


" 


George Martin, 


Nov. 27, 


1775. 


James McFarland, 


Jan. 1, 


1776. 


Jonathan Norton, 


(( (( 


u 


John Pierce, 


Nov. 29, 


1775. 


Joseph Plaister, 


Jan. 1, 


1776. 


George Phillips, 


April 5, 


u 


James Rogers, 


Jan. 1, 


l( 


Joseph Ross, 


Feby 13, 


u 


Timothy Rolfe, 


Jan. 1, 


n 



On command. Reenlisted Nov. 

1st, 1776. 
On command attending the 

sick at Genl Hospital. 
Reenlisted Nov. 16th, 1776. 

U U 9Q It 

Deserted June 28th, 1776. 
On command. Reenlisted 
Nov. 18th, 1776. 

On command. Reenlisted 

Dec. 1st, 1776. 
Reenlisted Nov. 14th, 1776. 
Discharged Sept. 26th, " 
Reenlisted Nov. 23, 1776. 
On command at Fort Edward. 
Deserted Oct. 1st, 1776. 

July 30th, " 
Reenlisted Nov. 17th, " 
Discharged April 6, 1776. 
" Sept. 20, " 



Left on command with Ensign 

Goodwin Nov. 22, 1776. 
On command at Fort Edward. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Lame in Barrack. 

Killed Oct. 13th, 1776. 

On furlovigh. Reenlisted Nov. 

15th, 1776. 
Reenlisted Nov. 15th, 1776. 
Deserted Oct. 18th, " 
Discharged Sept. 26th, " 



48 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

Isaac Ross, Feby 14, 1776. 

Joseph Studley, Dec. 17, 1775. On command with Lieut. 

Stubbs. Reenlisted Nov. 
14. 1776. 

James Soul, Jan. 4, 1776. On guard. 

James Sawyer, " 21, " 

Edvardus Shaw, Feby 13, " 

James Tucker, Jan. 1, " 

James Uran, sick at Albany in hospital. Reenlisted Nov. 15, 1776. 

James Weston, Sick in Hospital. 

John Webster, On furlough to Aug. 1st. by Gen. Ward, supposed de- 
serted Aug. 31st. 

Thomas Whalam, sick in barracks. Reenlisted Nov. 24th, 1776. 

Edward Wilson, April 13, 1776. Sick in Genl Hospital. 

Roger Woodworth, June 28, " Sick in Genl Hospital. Re- 

enlisted Nov. 14th, 1776. 

William York, Jan. 13, " On guard. 

The original roll is in the Massachusetts Archives, 
Volume XLVI, page 3. 72 men. 

FIFTH COMPANY. 

Ensign John Perkins served as sergeant under Capt. 
Hart Williams in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment of 
Foot at Cambridge in 1775, enlisted in this regiment 
January 1, 1776, as ensign, and died at Brookline 
hospital, April 18, 1776, of small pox. He went from 
Gorham. He married Lois Hadaway in 1769. 

Lieutenant David Watts went from Gorham and 
served as sergeant in Capt. Williams' company, in Col. 
Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 

1775, enlisted as ensign in this regiment January 1, 

1776, promoted to second lieutenant April 17, pro- 
moted to first lieutenant in Col. Brewer's 12th Massa- 
chusetts regiment January 1, 1777, and resigned July 
1, 1779. He married, December 9, 1779, Sarah Davis, 
and had children, Samuel, David and Betsey. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT. 



49 



FIFTH COMPANY. 

A Muster Roll of Capt. Hart Williams Company in Col. Edmund 
Phinney's Regiment in Garrison at Fort George, December Sth, 
1776. 

Enlisted. 
Hart Williams, Capt., Jan. 1, 1776. Sick at Albany. 



William McLellan, 1st Lieut., 
Cary McLellan, 2nd " 
John Perkins, Ensign, 

David Watts, Lieut., 



James Means, Ensign, 



James Perkins, Sergt., 



James Morton, " 

William Cole, " 

Richard Switcher, " 
Pelatiah McDonald," 
David Mclntire, Corp., 
Daniel Hunt, " 

John Melven, " 



April 21, 1776. 
Jan. 1, 



Jan. 
Jan. 



Deserted Aug. .Sd, 1776. 

Promoted Aug. 3, 1776. 

Died April 18, 1776, of small- 
pox. 

Lieut. April 17. Reengaged 
in Col. Brewer's Regt., 
Nov. 13, 1776. 

Reengaged as 2d Lieut, in Col. 
Brewer's Regt., Nov. 13, 
1776. 

Promoted Ensign Capt.York's 
Co., Aug. 1, 1776. 

Discharged in April. 

Sergt. April 17, 1776. 

" Aug. 1, 1776. 
Promoted Aug. 3, 1776. 



Peter Biter, " Dec. 

Soloman Green, " Jan. 

John Whitney, Drummer, Jan. 
Jeremiah Jones, Fifer, " 

Privates. 
Jonah Austin, 
John Burnell, 
Stacey Blush, 
James Berry, 
Soloman Brown, 
Abel Bathorick, 
Moses Blansher, 
Samuel Bradshaw, 
Jeremiah Clark, 
Israel Coley, 



Jan. 
Dec. 
Jan. 



Corp. April 17th, 1776. Re- 
engaged Dec. 1st, 1776. 
5, 1775. Corp. Aug. 1, 1776. 
10, 1776. " Aug. 3, 1776. 
1, " Reengaged Nov. 15th, 1776. 



1, 



5, 1775. Reengaged Nov. 26, 1776. 
1, 1776. Deserted May 1, 1776. 

1, 1775. Died Oct. 25, 1776. 

1, 1776. Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 
Dec. 27, 1775. 

Jan. 1, 1776. Died Aug. 1, 17*76. 
April 9, " Deserted April 11, 1776. 
Jan. 1, " Discharged March 1, 1776. 



Dec. 
Jan. 



50 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S EEGIMENT. 



Abraham Cummings, 
Josiah Clark, 
Loring Gushing, 
Daniel Dyer, 
Jonathan Doughty, 
Ebenezer File, 
Vinsen Fickett, 
Thomas Gustin, 
James Gilkey, 
Thomas Hill, 
William Haskell, 
John Hand, 
Prince Hamlin, 
Joshua Hamilton, 
Ichabod Hunt, 
George Hunt, 
Timothy Johnson, 
Jacob Knight, 
James Lary, 
IS^athan Lombard, 
Joseph McLellan, 
Abner McDannell, 
Soloman Mclntire, 
Matthias March, 
Daniel Maxwell, 
Jonas Nowland, 
Thomas Foot, 
John Parker, 
John Potter, 
James Potter, 
Joseph Pitman, 
Arthur Pottinger, 



Theodore Rounds, 
James Rounds, 
Elijah Richardson, 
Joseph Randall, 
Owen Runnells, 
Jonathan Sampson, 
Samuel Smith, 
Jonathan Sharpe, 



Dec. 
Jan. 



Dec. 

<t 

Jan. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Dec. 
Jan. 



Jan. 



Dec. 
Jan. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
May 
Jan. 



5, 1775. 
1, 1776. 



11, 1775. 

12, " 
1, 1776. 
3, 1775. 
1, 1776. 
7, 1775. 
1, 1776. 
1, " 

1, " 
1, 1776. 

1, " 

1, " 

1, " 

1, " 

1, " 

1, " 
12, 1775. 

1, 1776. 

5, 1775. 

1, 1776. 
10, " 

1, " 



Dec. 26, 1775. 



Jan. 1, 1776, 



Dec. 2, 1775. 
Jan. 1, 1776. 
April 19, " 
Jan. 1, " 

Dec. 26, 1775. 

Dec. 10, 1775. 

«' 5, " 



Deserted Oct. 31, 1776. 
Discharged Oct. 4, 1776. 
Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Reengaged Nov. 26, 1776. 
On command at Fort Edward. 
Discharged Nov. 8, 1776. 

Sick in barracks. 

Died Nov. 18th, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 

" " Barracks. 
Discharged Nov. 20th, 1776. 

Died March 14, 1776. 
Reengaged Nov. 30, 1776. 
Discharged Sept. 21st, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Discharged Oct. 7th, 1776. 
Deserted Sept. 1st, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Discharged Nov. 8, 1776. 
Reengaged Nov. 30, 1776, 
Died March 2, 1776, 
On command at Ticonderoga. 

Discharged Oct. 8, 1776. 

Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 
" July 15, " 

On command at Albany at- 
tending sick in Genl Hos- 
pital. 

Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 

Discharged Nov. 8, 1776. 

Discharged Sept. 30, 1776. 
Oct. 1, " 

Died Feby 29, - " 

On guard. 

Sick in Genl Hospital. 

Deserted May 2, 1776. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 51 

Jesse Whitney, Dec. 5, 1776. Discharged Sept. 30, 1776. 

Joseph Weymouth, Jan. 1, 1776. Deserted Jan. 5, 1776. 

Paul Whitney, " " Discharged Aug. 4, 1776. 

Ebenezer Whitney, " " " Sept. 20, " 

Daniel Whitney, Dec. 4, 1775. 

James Wagg, Jan. 1, 1776. 

John Whimble, " Died Aug. 3, 1776. 

John Whitney, " " May 5, " 

John York, " Discharged Oct. 7, 1776. 

James Whitney, Marchl7,1776. 

Philip Gammon, Jan. 1, " On guard and reengaged Dec. 

8, 1776. 

Joseph Green, " " " 

Bickford Dyer, " " " On command at Ticonderoga. 

Keengaged Nov. 30, 1776. 

Samuel File, Dec. 11, 1775. 

William Smith, " 10, " 

The original roll is in the Massachusetts Archives, 
Volume XLVI, page 2. 83 men. 

SIXTH COMPANY. 

Captain Nathan Watkins was the son of Daniel and 
Thankful Watkins of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and 
was born in 1737 ; his wife's name was Sarah, and he 
died in 1814. He removed from Hopkinton to Part- 
ridgeville, Berkshire, and Naples, New York. He was 
captain in Col. Patterson's regiment in 1775, in this 
regiment January 1, to December 31, 1776, and also in 
the 12th Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1777, 
taken prisoner July 7, 1777, and was discharged 
September 8, 1778. He signed the oath of allegiance 
at Valley Forge. 

Second Lieutenant Jacob Lyon was from Gage- 
borough, named for Gen. Gage, but changed to Wind- 
sor, Massachusetts. He was a sergeant in Capt. Wat- 
kins' company, in Col. John Patterson's regiment. 



52 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

eight months in 1775, joined this regiment January 
1, 1776, and died April 15, 1776. 

Second Lieutenant Peter W. Brown of North Yar- 
mouth, served in Col. Phinney's regiment at Cambridge 
in 1775, enlisted in this regiment January 1, 1776, as 
ensign, promoted to second lieutenant April 15, and 
served until December 31, 1776. He enlisted July 1, 
1778, in Capt. Benjamin Lemont's company, in Col. 
Nathaniel Wade's regiment, and served six months 
and twelve days in Rhode Island. He died February 
28, 1830. 

Ensign Robert Walker of Gageborough, was a cor- 
poral in Capt. Watkins' company, in Col. Patterson's 
regiment at Cambridge in 1775, joined this regiment 
as sergeant January 1, promoted to ensign April 15, 
and served until December 31, 1776. He was com- 
missioned first lieutenant in 12th Massachusetts regi- 
ment January 1, 1777, taken prisoner April 7, 1778, 
exchanged April 4, 1781, promoted captain July 15, 
1781, transferred to Col. Sprout's 2d Massachusetts 
regiment January 1, 1783, and served until the close 
of the war. He died at Windsor, Massachusetts, in 
January, 1834. 

SIXTH COMPANY. 

A Muster Roll of Capt. Nathan Watkins' Company in Col. Ed- 
mund Phinney's Regiment at Garrison, Fort George, December 8th, 
1776. 

Enlisted. 

Nathan Watkins, Capt., Jan. 1, 1776. Sick in Barrack. 

Silas Burbank, 1st Lieut., " Capt. in Col. Rrewer's Regt. 

Nov. 13, 1776. 
Jacob Lyon, 2nd " " Died April 15, 1776. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT. 



53 



Peter W. Brown, Jan. 

Ensign and Lieut., 
Robert Walker, " 



April 15, 177€ 
Sept. 1, " 
Jan. 1, " 



Dec. 1, 1775. 



Robert Thompson, Sergt., 
John Stevens, " 

Ezra Twitchell, " 

Daniel Parcher, " 

Ebenezer Seavey, Corp., 
John Watkins, " 

Timothy Bacon, " 
Joseph Morse, " 

Isaac Milliken, " 

Jacob Brown, Drummer, 
Elijah Bacon, Fifer, 

Privates. 
John Ayer, 
Jacob Adams, 
Abiel Beddle, 
William Boothby, 
Ishmal Bussey, 
Jothara Bruce, 
Melzar Biram, 
John Bullard, 
Mathias Button, 
Jonas Bruce, 
James Bacon, 
Eleazer Burbank, 
Elijah Clarke, 
John Curate, 
Theophilus Cornish, 
Samuel Cole, 
Francis Cash, 
Salmon Daton, 
William Eaton, 
Bartholomew Gyer, 
Stephen Googins, 
Benjamin Goodrich, " 

John Googins, " 

Samuel Gage, Jan. 1, 1776. 



1, 1776. Promoted to Lieut. April 

15th, 1776. 
" Advanced Ensign April 15th. 

Reengaged with Col. 

Brewer Nov. 13, 1776. 
" Sick in Genl. Hospital. 



Sergt. April 15, 1776. Sick in 

Genl. Hospital. 
Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 



Promoted from Private. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 



Artificer at Ticonderoga. 
On duty in Fleet. 



May 1, 


1776. 




Dec. 1, 


1775. 


On guard. 


Jan. 1, 


1776. 


Died Oct. 11, 1776. 


Dec. 1, 


1775. 


Discharged Sept. 20th, 1 


May 1, 


1776. 


Died Oct. 20th, 1776. 


Feby 25, 


" 


"' '• 19th, " 


June 10, 


u 




Jan. 1, 


" 


Sick in Genl Hospital. 


Xov. 24, 


1775. 


Discharged Aug. 1, 1776, 


Jan. 1, 


1776. 


Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 


Dec. 1, 


1775. 


On Guard. 


Jan. 1, 


1776. 


Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 



" On guard. 

Dec. 1, 1775. Sick in Genl Hospital. 



Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Deserted April 15, 1776. 



54 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT. 



Daniel Hall, 
John Hooper, 
Calvin Holloway, 
James Hide, 
Kufus Hemmenway, 
Bazuleel Low, 
Joseph Lunt, 
Josejli Loomer, 
Thomas Lewis, 
Edward Lewis, 
Isaac Townshend, 
Abijah Tarbox, 
Malachi Tore, 
Moses Twitchell, 
Michael Tenroy, 
John Moore, 
Kobert McKnight, 
Daniel Marshall, 
Bartholomew Eead, 
Benjamin Prince, 
Levi Russell, 
Ephriam Ridley, 
Soloman Rose, 
Josiah Read, 

James Scamans, 



Jan. 


1, 


1776. 


Dec. 


1, 


1775. 


Jan. 


1, 


1776. 


Feby 25, 


u 


Jan. 


1, 
11 


11 
u 


April 13, 


u 


Jan. 




n 


Dec. 




1775. 


Jan. 




1776. 


Dec. 




1775. 


K 




(; 


June 




1776. 


Jan. 




u 


Dec. 


24, 


1775. 


Jan. 




1776. 


Dec. 




1775. 


u 




u 


Jan. 




1776. 


Dec. 




1775. 



Jacob Smith, 


Jan. 


1, 


1776. 


Daniel Sweney, 


Nov. 


24 


1775, 


John Smith, 


Dec. 




u 


Abraham Townsend, 


11 




1( 


Elisha Williams, 


Jan. 


^1 


1776. 


Lemuel Welsh, 


Dec. 


^^ 


1775. 


Mark Watkins, 


Jan. 


1, 


1776. 


Jonathan French, 


June 


J^i 




Jack Brown, 


April 10, 




Saniuel Blood, 


June 17, 




Ceaser Jackson, 


Jan. 


1, 




James Shirley, 


June 


11, 




Prince Batchelder, 


April 


3, 




Samuel Dinsmore, 


Jan. 


1, 




Eliphalet Wood, 


" 


" 





Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 
Died Aug. 4, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 



Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Died Oct. 18, 1776. 
Reenlisted Nov. 25, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 

On command at Fort Edward. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Reenlisted Nov. 25, 1776. 

Deserted Feby 1, 1776. 
Discharged March 10, 1776. 
" Sept. 20, 1776. 



Deserted Sept. 1, 1776. 
On command at Fort Edward. 
Reenlisted Nov. 25, 1776. 



Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Reenlisted Nov. 25, 1776. 

Sick in Genl Hospital. 

On command at Ticonderoga. 

Reenlisted Nov. 20, 1776. 
Sick in barracks. 
Discharged, under age. 



Discharged Aug. 1, 1776. 

" 1, " 
On command to Ticonderoga. 
Died April 15, 1776. 
Discharged March 10, 1776. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 55 

Moses Cromett, April 1, 1776. Taken as a deserter into Col. 

Poor's Regt. Sept. .5, 1776. 
Jno. Twitchell, Dec. 24, 1775. 

The original roll is in the Massachusetts Archives, 
Volume XLVI, page 1. 82 men. 

SEVENTH COMPANY. 

Captain Silas Wilde of Braintree, Massachusetts, 
was under Capt. Benjamin Lincoln in the Lexington 
Alarm, then a captain in Col. William Heath's regi- 
ment at Cambridge in 1775, captain in this regiment 
January 1 to December 31, 1776, a committee to raise 
soldiers at Braintree in 1777, captain in Col. Ebenezer 
Thayer's 3d regiment July 8, 1777, and a captain in 
Col. John Brook's regiment, guarding Burgoyne pris- 
oners at Cambridge, February 3 to April 3, 1778. He 
was a prominent citizen of Braintree, where he died 
September 30, 1807, aged seventy-one years. 

First Lieutenant Daniel Merrill of Arundel, had wife 
named Sarah, and he died at Kennebunkport, Maine, 
September 6, 1808. He served in Col. Scamman's 
regiment at Cambridge in 1775, joined this regiment 
January 1, and served until December, 1776. He 
enlisted in Col. Brewer's 12th Massachusetts regiment 
January 1, 1777, was promoted to captain, and retired 
April 1, 1779. 

Second Lieutenant William Frost of Kittery, Maine, 
was born May 26, 1747, and married Elizabeth Ran- 
dall of Berwick, Maine, and died June 2, 1827, aged 
eighty years. He was second lieutenant in Col. Scam- 
man's regiment at Cambridge in 1775, was in this reg- 
iment in 1776, joined Col. Brewer's 12th Massachusetts 



56 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

regiment in 1777, promoted to first lieutenant August 
10, 1777, and was discharged in December, 1778. He 
signed the oath of allegiance at Valley Forge. 

Ensign John Pray of Kittery, Maine, sergeant in 
Capt. Tobias Fernald's Company in Col. Scamman's 
regiment 1775, joined this regiment January 1, 1776, 
then became ensign in Col. Brewer's 12th Massachu- 
setts regiment in 1777, promoted to first lieutenant 
January 1, 1779, and captain July 5, 1779, transferred 
to the 1st Massachusetts regiment January 1, 1781, 
serving until June, 1783. He signed the oath of alle- 
giance at Valley Forge, and died in September, 1812. 

SEVENTH COMPANY. 

A Muster Roll of Capt. Silas Wilde's Company in Col. Edmund 
Phinney's Regiment in Garrison at Fort George, December 8th, 1776. 

Enlisted. 

Silas Wilde, Capt., Jan. 1, 1776. 

Daniel Merrill, 1st Lieut., " " " Reengaged Nov. 13th, 1776, 

Col. Brewer's Regt. 
William Frost, 2nd " " " " Reengaged Nov. 13th, 1776, 

Col. Brewer's Regt. 
John Pray, Ensign, " " " Reengaged Nov. 1.3th, 1776, 

Col. Brewer's Regt. 
Lemuel Miller, Sergt., " " " Reengaged Nov. 13th, 1776, 

Col. Brewer's Regt. 
Benjamin Thompson, " MarchlO, " On guard. Reengaged Nov. 13, 

1776, Col. Brewer's Regt. 
Enoch Meloon, " Jan. 1, " On com'd as Artificer at Ti- 

conderoga. 
William Cole, " " " " Discharged June 1.5, 1776. 

Joseph Crain, Corp., June 16, " Sick in Barrack. 

Richard Thompson, " Jan. 1, '* " " Genl Hospital. 
Joshua Emery, " " " " On com'd as Artificer at Ti- 

conderoga. 
Joshua Nason, " " " " 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 



57 



Eastman Hutchings, Corp., Jan. 1, 1776. 

Andrew Stone, Drummer, " " " 
Joseph Taft, Fifer, " " '• 



Privates. 
Elisha Andross, 
John Austin, 
Jeremiah Bettess, 

Thomas Bickford, 



Joseph Stoutbooms, 
Calvin Cowen, 
Hezekiah Cooms, 
Thomas Crawford, 
Thomas Crawty, 

Israel Dorman, 
Dependence Day, 

Joseph Donnett, 
Jacob Emery, 
John Ferguson, 
Thomas Faxon, 
Samuel Goodwin, 



Corp. June 16, 1776. Sick at 
Genl Hospital. 

Sick in Gen. Hospital. Reen- 
gaged Nov. 26th, Col. 
Brewer's Regt. 



David Burrell, 


u 


u 


Samuel Bickford, 


June 


1, 


John Brown, 


May 


31, 


Soloman Barber, 


(1 


28, 


Abel Burnham, 


Mar. 


10, 


Joseph Grain, Jr., 


Feby 


1, 


Nathan Cooms, 


Mar. 


10, 


Hosea Cooms, 


u 


u 



Jan. 1, 1776. 

MarchlO, " On command Fort Edward. 

Jan. 1, " Reengaged Dec. 1. On com- 
mand at Fort Ticonderoga. 

Jan. 1,1776. On guard. [Wounded at Hub- 
bardton. Killed on a guard- 
ship in Boston Harbor 
quelling an insurrection. 
A young man of much 
promise.] 
Discharged Sept. 1, 1776, at 
Boston. 



Deserted June 15, 1776. 
On duty baking. 
Died Oct. 5, 1776. 

Discharged Oct. 8, 1776. 

" at Boston Sept. 1, 

1776. 



U 11 

11 11 



Feby 6, " 

" 29, " 

Jan. 1, " 



May 1, " 
Feby 29, " 



On command at Ticonderoga. 
" " Fort Edward. 

Wounded and lame in Genl. 
Hospital. 

Present reengaged Nov. 15, 

1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 



Present reengaged Nov. 15, 
1776. 



58 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT. 



Patrick Grace, 
Daniel Green, 
Tobias Goold, 
Simeon Hatchings, 
Levi Hutchings, 

Seth Hinkley, 
Israel Hebbard, 
Joseph Hibbard, 

Nehemiah Hubbard, 
Nelson Hill, 
John Jordan, 
Paul Kilborn, 
Andrew Lydstone, 
Daniel Lord, 
John Michaels, 
Anthony Marsh, 
Samuel Maning, 
Benjamin Nason, 
Stephen Nason, 
Samuel Neal, 
Reuben Nason, 
Jonathan Osburne, 
John Penney, 
George Penny, 
Salathiel Penny, 

William Parker, 
Robert Patch, 

James Randall, 
Benjamin Gavell, 
Christopher Stover, 
Charles Sargent, 
Lemuel Smith, 
James Smart, 
James Standley, 

Eleazer Taft, 

John Thayer, 



Mar. 10, 1777. 
Jan. 1, " 
" 15, " 
Jan. 1, 1776. 
Feby 29, " 

Mar. 10, " 
April 1, " 



May 1, " 
June 1, " 
Jan. 1, " 
Feby 21, " 
Jan. 1, " 

Mar. 10, •' 
Jan. 15, " 
June 1, " 

Jan. 1, " 

Dec. 15, 1775. 

Mar. IS, 1776. 

Jan. 1, " 
" 10, " 
" 10, " 

Feby 21, " 

Jan. 1, 1776. 



Feby 1, " 
Mar. 10, " 
Jan. 1, " 



Discharged Oct. 8, 1776. 

Deserted March 1, 1776. 
Reengaged Nov. 14, Col. Brew- 
er's Regt. 



Reengaged Nov. 14, Col. Brew- 
er's Regt. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 

" Dec. 2, " 
Deserted Nov. 1, " 



Died Sept. 7, 1776. 
Sick in Genl. Hospital. 



Died Sept. 30, 1776. 
Sick in Barrack. 
Deserted Aug. 30, 1776. 

Reengaged Nov. 14, Sick in 
Barrack. 

Present reengaged Nov. 29, 

1776. 
On guard. 



On "guard. 

Sick in Barrack. 

On command as Artificer at 

Ticonderoga. 
On command with Gen. Wash 

ington. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT. 



59 



William Welch, 


(( (1 


u 


Elijah Whithum, 


Dec. 15, 


1775. 


Nathan Whithum, 


Jan. 15, 


1776. 


Paul Wilde, 


April 1, 


" 


James Whithum, 


March 1, 


u 


Eeuben Young, 


May 1, 


" 


Moses Whitton, 


June 1, 


(k 



Kichard Thompson, Jr., Mar. 10, 1776. Reengaged Nov. 14th, in Col. 

Brewer's Eegt. 



Discharged at Muster Dec. 8, 

1776. 

On command with Col. Pat- 
terson, Reengaged Nov. 
13, 1776. 

Died Oct. 8, 1776. 

The original roll is in the Mnssachnsetts Archives, 
Volume XL VI, page 6. 83 men. 

EIGHTH COMPANY. 

Ensign Soloman Meserve of Scarborough was born 
July 9, 1743; married, December 19, 1769, Isabella 
Jordan, and had children. He was a sergeant in Capt. 
Abraham Tyler's Company in Col. Phinney's 31st 
Regiment of Foot at Cambridge in 1775, became en- 
sign in this regiment January 1, 1776, and was dis- 
missed from the service September 30, 1776. 

EIGHTH COMPANY. 

A Muster Roll of Capt. Abraham Tyler's Company in Col. Ed- 
mund Phinney's Regiment in Garrison at Fort George, December 
8th, 1776. 

Enlisted. 
Jan. 1, 1776. 



Abraham Tyler, Capt., 
Elisha Meserve, 1st Lieut.. 
Edward Milliken, 2d " 
Soloman Meserve, Ensign, 

George Vaughan, Sergt., 
John Waterhouse, " 
William Hasty, " 



On command at Albany. 
Dismissed the service Sept. 
30, 1776. 



On furlough by Col. Sick at 
Castleton, Nov. 15, 1776. 



60 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 



David Fogg, Sergt., Dec. 1, 1775. On command at Ticonderoga. 

William Bragdon, Corp., Jan. 1, 1776. On furlough by Col. Sick at 

Castleton in N^ov. 
Elisha Bragdon, " " " " 

William Chamberlain," " " " Sick in Genl Hospital. 

Jonathan Libby, " Dec. 10, 1775. Exchanged for Daniel Libby 

May 1, 1776. 
William Warren, " Dec. 5, " Corp. May 1, 1776. Sick in 

barracks. 
Abner Harmon, Drummer, Jan. 1, 1776. Discharged Sept. 20th, 1776. 

May 4, " 

Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 



Benjamin Hoyt, Fifer, 
William Comer, " 

Privates. 
Wright Allen, 
Jonathan Bragdon, 
John Boulter, 
William Burrell, 
Nathan Badeen, 
Wyman Bradbury, 

Daniel Coolbroth, 

Richard Collins, 
Abi-ahara Durgin, 
Benjamin Dyer, 
John Folsome, 
John Fly, 
Uriah Grafham, 
Edward Hulin, 
Gideon Hanscom, 
Thomas Harmon, 
Humphrey .Jordan, 
James Jackson, 

Israel Jordan, 
Isaac Jordan, 
Samuel Jordan, 
Edmund Kenney, 
Thomas Kenney, 
Isaac Larraby, 
Robert Libby, 
Urbain Lewis, 



May 5, " 

Feby 28, 1776. 
Jan. 1, " 
Jan. 22, 1776. 
Dec. 20, 1775. 
Jan. 1, 1776. 
" 23, " 

u 1^ u 

" 23, " 

" 1, " 

Dec. 20, 1775. 

" 27, " 

Jan. 1, 1776. 

June 11, " 

Jan. 1, " 

•' 22, " 

" 24, " 

1, " 

Dec. 9, 1775. 

" 12, " 

" 11, " 

Jan. 1, 1776. 

" 23, " 

ti u w 

Dec. 12, 1775. 
April 29, 1776. 



On guard. 

Deserted July 27, 1776. 

On guard. 

Reengaged Dec. 4, 1776. 

Died May 23, 1776. 

On command at Ticonderoga. 
Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 

On command at Albany. Re- 
engaged Nov. 15, 1776. 

Deserted Aug. 8, 1776. 

On duty. 

Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Discharged Sept. 20, 1776. 
Deserted A.ug. 8, 1776. 

Discharged Sept. 20, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 
On command at Ticonderoga. 
On board Galley on Lake 
Champlain. 

Deserted Aug. 8, 1776. 
Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Died Aug. 8, 1776. 
Discharged Sept. 30, 1776. 



Discharged Oct. 4, 1776. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 



61 



William Libby, 


Jan. 


1, 


1776. 


Abner Milliken, 


(1 


(( 


(( 


Benjamin March, 


April 


5, 


k( 


Josiah Milliken, 


Jan. 


1, 


«( 


James Marrs, 


i( 


(( 


K 


Nathaniel Meserve, 


Dec. 


9, 


1775. 


Pierce Moody, 


Jan. 


1, 


1776. 


William Milton, 


Dec. 


7, 


1775. 


William Maxwell, 


June 28, 


1776. 


David Northey, 


(( 


11, 


11 


Edward Plummer, 


Dec. 


1, 


1775. 


Salem Poor, 


May 


14, 


1776. 


John Kunnells, 


Jan. 


10, 


t( 


Lazarus Rand, 


Feby 


28, 


(1 


Michasa Rand, 


a 


(( 


li 


Charles Smith, 


Jan. 


6, 


u 


Joseph Severence, 


" 


1, 


1( 


James Small, 


(< 


«( 


a 


Jonathan Sprague, 


(( 


(( 


ii 


William Shute, 


(1 


22, 


(( 


Andrew Tyler, 


Dec. 


13, 


1775. 


Humphrey Tyler, 


May 


10, 


1776. 


Joshua Thorndike, 


Dec. 


8, 


1775. 


Daniel Libby, 


May 


1, 


1776. 


Henry Carver, 


Dec. 


20, 


1775. 


John Croxford, 


Feby 


28, 


1776. 


Lemuel Coolbroth, 


Jan. 


1, 


(( 


Zebulon Libby, 


(( 


(( 


(( 



Sick in Genl Hospital. 

Discharged Aug. 1, 1776. 

On command by Col. Phinney . 
Discharged Oct. 4, 1776. 

On command at Ticonderoga. 
Reengaged Nov. 28, 1776. 



Sick in Genl Hospital. 



Discharged Sept. 26, 1776. 
On command at Castleton at- 
tending sick. 
Discharged Aug. 8, 1776. 

Sick in Genl Hospital. 
Discharged Sept. 20, 1776. 

Left sick near Boston, Aug. 

8th, still sick. 
Reengaged Nov. 15, 1776. 

Reengaged Nov. 15th, 1776. 



The original roll is in the Massachusetts Archives, 
Volume XLVI, page 5. 70 men. 

The story of the Eighteenth Continental regiment 
is respectfully dedicated to the posterity of those no- 
ble, liberty-loving patriots who served and suffered for 
your good. They were a race of men of whom you 
have every reason to feel proud, and were as noble as 



62 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT. 

the weaknesses of their natures would admit. In 
honoring them you honor yourselves. My reward is 
your gratitude. 

They went where duty seemed to call, 
They scarcely asked the reason why ; 
They only knew they could but die, 

And death was not the worst of all ! 



